Best EP's for a PST?

[Flyingpig]

I'm a HA newbie and I've just acquired a Coronado PST. What are the best ep's to use with the PST and do the Coronado Cemex or the Lunt solar ep's have any real difference over standard good quality Ep's ? 

[Merlin66]

I find the ol' plossl 10mm works very well with the PST.

I also have a set of the Cemax eyepieces - they didn't do anything special for my eyes.

 

[Paul73]

I used a Baader Zoom with its 2.2 x Barlow. This gives the full range of options and allows for uninterrupted exploration. They seem to work well with the higher light levels of solar observing.

Paul

[Merlin66]

Hmmm

I'm interested to hear this....I had problems bring my zoom eyepiece to focus on the PST. Did the Baader zoom still work without the Barlow??

 

[Flyingpig]

Thanks guys the Plossl design doesn't really surprise me, Just as with planetary  astronomy the Plossl is a fantastic performer. 

I am much more surprised by the Baader Zoom I've never really been greatly impressed by zoom ep's although the Baader is by far the best zoom I've had the pleasure of trying. 

Do any observational (or ccd) filters work well with Ha? 

[Merlin66]

The PST is a very narrow Ha filter (0.1nm) at Ha wavelength.

There are no additional filters which would work, or in fact needed.

 

[Flyingpig]

Thanks Merlin I was mainly wondering about the colour observing (Wratten) filters which enhance certain features on the planets I've used these a lot on planetary observations. 

[Paul73]

The Baader Mk3 works fine on mine with or without the Barlow. It does sit well down on the holding thumb screw. My PST is an older model, so specifications may have changed????

Zooms do have their fans for night use. The Baader is the only one that I have tried, but I found that it came up woefully short (in my overly picky opinion). However, in the higher light conditions of Solar viewing. I find it the an excellent tool. Strangely, my night time weapons of choice, the Delos range, are difficult to use in daylight.

Maybe a case of 'try before you buy'. Or, stick to the Plossl route until you get the chance to try one. We all agree that they work well!

Paul

[Merlin66]

Understood.

The only additional filtering which could/ would be useful is to add a further Ha etalon and turn the PST into a "Double stack".

This effectively reduces the bandwidth to around 0.5A (0.05nm) and enhances the surface detail on the Sun.

Solar Ha (and CaK) observing/ imaging is a unique area....... and expensive!!

(Just a comment: the PST when designed and released in 2003 it was as a visual instrument. Adapting it for imaging can be problematic)

 

[Paul73]

I can't see the coloured filters making any difference. The Etalon in the PST is a very narrow band filter at the deep red end of things. A bit like a really really focused coloured filter.

Paul

[Paul73]

Ha. Merlin got there first! I really glad that my post wasn't at odds with his ? There aren't many that know more about PST's than him.

Enjoy your new scope. It will take a bit of practice to get the best views, but it is well worth the effort. 

Paul

PS. Better get saving nice the Double Stack unit now.... ??

[Merlin66]

Hmmm

Adding coloured filters -blue, green etc could actually cause more headaches!!

They would block the Ha wavelength getting through the PST with a dramatic loss of light - ie no visible solar image!!!

 

[Flyingpig]

Thanks for all your comments yes an extra etalon would be really nice but very pricey as is everything in Ha astronomy... 

[AdeKing]

I can confirm that my Baader Mk IV zoom also achieves focus with the PST I have on loan from my local Astro group (not sure of vintage but it has a blueish objective).

I find it difficult to focus the zoom at shorter than 16mm, but I also find it difficult to focus with my Plossls that are shorter than 16mm as well, so maybe its just me.

I tend to do most of my observing in the 32mm - 16mm range as I find it difficult to focus at high powers and I find that lower magnifications offer more contrast even though the details are much smaller.

Ade 

[Solar B]

The PST should come to focus easily within the 10 to 15mm range above that (at higher mags) really requires good to v good

seeing ... simple (Japan) plossls are best overall for contrast but the Hype Zoom seems is one of those rare exceptions that

works very well with it.

 

Brian 

[Highburymark]

Don't discount zooms for ha solar. The Pentax XF is a particularly excellent performer - just as good as the best fixed f/l eyepieces - £100 secondhand if you're fortunate enough to find one. 

[Highburymark]

Ps - though haven't used mine with a PST, so don't know if there are focus issues