Doa! look what ive done

[xtreemchaos]

I'm not very proud of myself, note to brain "must take caps off before using Quark" luckerly no damage, it didn't drip down on to my new wedge, carnt belive I imaged thismorrning with it on ,only noticed when changing to night set up.. oh well we live and learn, but do I ... charl.

[Zakalwe]

I've done the same too in the past.

You might want the give the ERF a careful clean ans it might have had smoke or fumes deposited on it.

It also shows how much heat is getting through whatever filter you are using on the diagonal. I switched from an IR/UV filter to a Baader 35Nm hydrogen alpha filter and it cut down the IR immensely.

[xtreemchaos]

thanks Zakalwe, glad to know I'm not on my own mate, I gave everything a clean with wonder fluid and had a close look with my 20x oculars and it looks clean.

I was doing well this year for accidents until today, I think these things happen to keep us on our toes. I imaged for a hour and a half with it on and changed scopes but I keep the wedge ERF and quark together so didn't spot it until changing everything for night imaging. charl.

[Zakalwe]

It also highlights the potential for damage when doing solar imaging.

[xtreemchaos]

for sure mate, even though a erf that beam of light is deadly. charl.

[JOC]

Images like that are scarey.  I have a home-made filter that fits on the OTA and I keep it in a special box and  check it for pin-holes before using.  I also tie it on the OTA and never add on the finderscope to the OTA just to be on the safe-side, but shots like that in the OP are a stark reminder not to take chances with our star.  It does make me wonder what sort of risk I take when I use something that I made myself! (I did buy a sheet of that highly expensive foiled sheet to make it with though).

I take it all you damaged was the dust cap?

[JemC]

Blooming heck Charl 

thank goodness it was just the plastic cap,

Maybe a check-list to run through every time you do solar, to make sure you have everything as it should be ? 

[tooth_dr]

For myself who is not at all familiar with a Quark, just what exactly was missing in the setup that allowed this to happen!!?

[Ouroboros]

Oooooher!  Hopefully no serious damage to equipment.   At least it's not your eyes. 

[xtreemchaos]

thanks Joc, the quark looks to be ok just the dust cap what got vapourise. yer you can never be too carefull with sol mate, the quark was inbetween me and the sun so I wasn't in any danger just my pride hurt for being careless. charl.

[xtreemchaos]

thanks James, I usally check off stuff in my head but I just missed it this time, I leave it setup mostly but did some imaging two night ago and needed the wedge to do vis in the f11 and just forgot when switching back. charl.

[xtreemchaos]

thanks Tooth dr, nothing missing mate just forgot to remove the dust cap, I wasn't in any danger just could of broke my quark and wedge if the plastic had stuck to them.. charl.

[Davey-T]

I've done it a couple of times when rushing to setup, takes a while to figure out where the burning plastic smell is coming from, I blame old age 

Dave

[xtreemchaos]

thanks Ouroburos, hopefully the quark will be fine, I imaged with it today and was working well when I turned it off  so it should be good, I wasn't in any danger because the quark was inbetween me and sol. charl.

[tooth_dr]

Thanks for the reply Charl.  I see now, for a minute I though the dust cap was covering the bit you look in to, and I couldnt figure out how this would ever be safe!  But yes the light goes through the Quark then to your eye/camera!

[xtreemchaos]

thanks Dave, arrh so it will happen again then , I didn't smell anything but I smoke so probley it pass me by mate, hope you have clear , nice here tonight. charl.

[Ibbo!]

opps

 

Lets be careful out there

[Craney]

Crikey !!!!!!   ...  I thought it was the Large Hadron Collider that separated Quarks......   So glad to hear no serious damage done, phew.....!!!

Look after yourself Charl,  I rely on your Solar posts to know what is going on.

Sean.

[xtreemchaos]

thanks Steve, that is me being carefull, no dout ill do it again, I don't usally learn at one sitting . charl.

[xtreemchaos]

thanks Sean, I felt very releaved when I saw id got off lucky "touch wood", id not be long without a quark, id sell me soul to the devil to get another while it was getting repaired . charl.

[Chris]

Woah! a reminder to all with regards to the Sun. 

[xtreemchaos]

thanks Chris, agreed mate, I was going to keep it to myself with it being a daft thing to do, but thought if it stops anybody else doing it id best report. charl.

[Davey-T]

Found pic' of it dated November 2014, bit blurry, I think the smoke got in my eyes, this was the first time I did it 

Dave 

[MarsG76]

Solar observing can be dangerous... imagine that was your eye.... pheeew

 

[niallk]

Geez - glad no bad damage!