First prominence image on relatively new gear

[Davenn]

hi guys and gals OK finally starting to figure out how to use all this new software and hardware for viewing and imaging the sun finally a first decent image of a prominence today 2017/11/14

gear - Lunt LS60THa solar telescope, ZWO178MC camera and SharpCap software trying to image in daytime is a real challenge ...

dealing with daytime glare on a laptop screen etc this is a single image capture

 

 

the basic setup

just a quick pic of the setup laptop inside cardboard box for some shielding of the screen from the sunlight.

I needed to stick my head into the box up close to the screen to stop the sunlight reflections off me getting onto the screen ....

 

regards

Dave

 

 

[PhotoGav]

That's a good start, well done! I recommend a shroud over you and box to help with eliminating reflections - think Victorian photographer! Good luck and at least down in Australia you have a very good chance of seeing the Sun far more frequently than us lot here in the UK!

[Davenn]

3 minutes ago, PhotoGav said:

I recommend a shroud over you and box to help with eliminating reflections - think Victorian photographer!

 

Hi Gav,

thanks for that     ahhh yes, that would help lots, will have to see if I can find some cloth to drape over my head and the box

[MarsG76]

Single image?? very good pic for a single shot, to get the surface and the prominence is fantastic....

I see you made a shade box for your laptop, cover yourself with a black or dark towel/blanket to see the screen.

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

Very good single shot!

[Davenn]

On ‎14‎/‎11‎/‎2017 at 20:38, MarsG76 said:

Single image?? very good pic for a single shot,

yes and thankyou .... as you could see I was just using a camera tripod, so no tracking.  I did do a brief .avi movie but have yet to

see if registax or stackkurt can handle the sun moving across the FOV ??

On ‎14‎/‎11‎/‎2017 at 20:59, michael.h.f.wilkinson said:

Very good single shot!

Thanks   appreciate that

still lots to learn and I really need to get the scop onto a tracking mount so I don't have to keep nudging it  

 

Dave

[Davey-T]

Nicely done Dave, welcome to the light side.

You should achieve some nice images with that setup, I find wearing a black T shirt helps with screen reflactions.

A slow drift of the Sun across the image can help eliminate dust bunnies and Newtons damn rings.

Dave

[Davenn]

On ‎15‎/‎11‎/‎2017 at 21:59, Davey-T said:

Nicely done Dave, welcome to the light side.

You should achieve some nice images with that setup, I find wearing a black T shirt helps with screen reflactions.

A slow drift of the Sun across the image can help eliminate dust bunnies and Newtons damn rings.

Dave

 

black tee-shirt .... another good suggestion ... Thanks 

 

I have a long history of solar observing .... was the early 1970's when I started regularly drawing sunspots. Aurora observing and photography. Also collecting sunspot /flux data from the WWV transmissions etc

Using my ham radio to monitor burst of solar noise caused by flares

Have done a lot of white light solar photography over the years, but this foray into Ha filters and imaging is only a couple of months old, so a bit of a learning curve

 

[GreatAttractor]

Good result, Dave. Autostakkert! will handle a drifting image without problems. Regarding the glare - keep a towel (e.g.) on hand and just put it over your head and the box for focusing/etalon tuning. And make sure your next laptop has a matte screen

[Pete Presland]

very nice first image.

[Davenn]

On ‎26‎/‎11‎/‎2017 at 05:18, GreatAttractor said:

Good result, Dave. Autostakkert! will handle a drifting image without problems. Regarding the glare - keep a towel (e.g.) on hand and just put it over your head and the box for focusing/etalon tuning. And make sure your next laptop has a matte screen

thanks, slowly improving

That is good to hear  I have done several short video clips as the sun drifted across the FOV.  so I might have a go at seeing how it works out

 

Dave

 

[Davenn]

On ‎26‎/‎11‎/‎2017 at 18:53, Pete Presland said:

very nice first image.

 

cheers Pete

a fun learning process

 

D

[Pete Presland]

1 hour ago, Davenn said:

 

cheers Pete

a fun learning process

 

D

Having fun is the most important aspect of any hobby. Have you tried Firecapture? 

[Davenn]

23 hours ago, Pete Presland said:

Having fun is the most important aspect of any hobby. Have you tried Firecapture? 

 

Hi Pete

I did download it several weeks ago ... maybe even installed it, cant remember

does it have worthy advantages over Sharpcap ?

 

Dave

[Pete Presland]

Never used sharpcap, but Firecapture does allow for multiple settings to be saved for different captures.

For example solar proms, surface detail, white light, or at different focal lengths.