Sol - 2017-10-22 - A Few Views

[PhotoGav]

I was lucky enough to have a bit of clear sky earlier today, so the experiments with the new PGR Chameleon3 continued...

First up, a Full Disk with Proms, though the prom show is waning dramatically now. It is lovely to see AR2673 come back yet again, this time as AR2685, the slightly smaller relative!

I then decided to have a play with adding my 2.5x Powermate into the chain. This created a bit of banding thanks to Mr Newton, so I turned the tracking off to let the image drift across the chip while capturing. This has sort of worked, but I'm not convinced:

I then had a go with a much smaller ROI, opting for 800x600. I left the tracking on as the banding didn't seem so bad at this resolution.

Finally I kept the same ROI, but wound out the tuner to give more of a white light view:

The banding is a definite issue with the Powermate and I will be attempting to remove that next time.

One question is ideally where should the Powermate go in the chain? Here's a pic of my set-up, as you will see, I have put the Powermate between the scope and the diagonal. Is that the best place to put it?!

All in all a satisfactory session and I was happy to make some progress with the close ups. I definitely like this camera, especially compared to the old ZWO ASI120MC-S, but that is no real surprise! I really do want to sort out the close up views though as I do like those views and don't want to have to resort to a large 'frac with a Quark...!

[Davey-T]

51 minutes ago, PhotoGav said:

 

 

I was lucky enough to have a bit of clear sky earlier today, so the experiments with the new PGR Chameleon3 continued...

First up, a Full Disk with Proms, though the prom show is waning dramatically now. It is lovely to see AR2673 come back yet again, this time as AR2685, the slightly smaller relative!

I then decided to have a play with adding my 2.5x Powermate into the chain. This created a bit of banding thanks to Mr Newton, so I turned the tracking off to let the image drift across the chip while capturing. This has sort of worked, but I'm not convinced:

I then had a go with a much smaller ROI, opting for 800x600. I left the tracking on as the banding didn't seem so bad at this resolution.

Finally I kept the same ROI, but wound out the tuner to give more of a white light view:

The banding is a definite issue with the Powermate and I will be attempting to remove that next time.

One question is ideally where should the Powermate go in the chain? Here's a pic of my set-up, as you will see, I have put the Powermate between the scope and the diagonal. Is that the best place to put it?!

All in all a satisfactory session and I was happy to make some progress with the close ups. I definitely like this camera, especially compared to the old ZWO ASI120MC-S, but that is no real surprise! I really do want to sort out the close up views though as I do like those views and don't want to have to resort to a large 'frac with a Quark...!

Coming along nicely Gav, I've never tried my power mate for solar only a Barlow which I use before the camera in the LS60.

Repeat, large frac' and Quark, large frac' and Quark, large frac' and Quark, resistance is futile 

Dave

[tich]

With the DMK41 I use I don't get any banding either Gav but when I use a Barlow it suffers a bit, I have it set up as camera, barlow diagonal. All I did to get rid of mine was loosen the camera in the Barlow pull it out slightly & tighten it back in slightly off line as I've enough focus to mess around with using the Lunt 35.

[PhotoGav]

Thank you Dave & Tich. I have various adapters on order, so hope to make a better job of it soon. I will try the camera / Barlow / diagonal configuration. I found I couldn’t reach focus like that with the ZWO, but never really tried very hard!

As for a ‘frac-ing Quark......... can I borrow a few quid please Dave?!

file

[Macavity]

The main problem with Barlowing my Lunt (50!) was lack of "travel"
re. the helical focuser? I could not get enough *in-focus* for most
conventional Barlows to work? To Barlow by a factor of (just over?)
2x I eventually found the following setup to work... See Pictures.

https://stargazerslounge.com/topic/294836-lunt-50tha-first-light/?tab=comments#comment-3227826

My trick was to use the nosepiece only of higher (3x) magnification
Barlow which will give about 2x with a smaller in-focus requirement.
ISTR it Works for Skywatcher Barlows. NO idea re. Powermates? DO
the nosepieces unscrew? Would I even dare to with a Teleview?

BUT it's hard to predict with any degree of certainty exactly where
focus will occur with most Barlows?!? I did suggest testing it with a
standard refractor of ABOUT the same configuration / focal length.
My ED66 has a scale to help. Test with versus without a Barlow?!?
Use a distant object during the day. NOT on the SUN of course!

[Pete Presland]

Nice set of images. 

[PhotoGav]

Thanks Chris. It seems to be a bit of a cobbled thing this magnified Lunt view attempt! Yes, the Powermate does unscrew and I will be experimenting with that when Sol puts in its next appearance.

[Macavity]

36 minutes ago, PhotoGav said:

It seems to be a bit of a cobbled thing...

I think that a fair comment / conclusion, Gav!