Solar Imaging Query

[Trillian]

Hi everyone,

I have tried on several occasions to take images of the sun using my skywatcher 130p and philips spc900 webcam. I have tried using both Sharpcap and V-lounge. The problem I am having is that though I can view the sun clearly through an eyepiece, once I put the webcam in place the image appears on the computer screen but it is huge, out of focus and the sunspots don't show up. I have played around with various settings and nothing seems to make any difference. What am I doing wrong? How can I tweek the settings to allow the image to fit fully onto the screen and clearly enough to view the sunspots? :icon_scratch:

[KevG]

No expert, but I have been playing around with a Toucam on AR1147 past couple of days, found that I had to tease the Webcam adaptor back till it was barely in the holder to achieve enough back focus, also found that a high shutter speed was required 1/500 & about 20% gain + 10fps. Hope you have better luck next time

[Greg]

It's a whille since i've imaged the sun with my Toucam but if I remember correctly I either had to use a barlow or an extender to reach focus..

You have to reduce the gain and set the V lounge software to the maximum frames per second to achieve a sharp focus.

Once you achieve focus you increase the gain and reduce the number of frames per second to produce a good image on the screen...Then click record..

HTH

Greg

[brianb]

Practice on the Moon ... apart from the filter, the technique is pretty similar & the targets are the same size.

[jgs001]

As I recall I had to use a barlow to drop the light down to the point the camera wasn't overexposing even with the filter in place.

Are you able to focus the webcam in the 130p on the moon ?

[Trillian]

This is about as good as I have got from imaging the moon so far. However I am still unable to get the whole of the moon onto the screen.

[jgs001]

That looks ok. You won't get the whole moon on screen at once with that setup, you'd need to do a mosaic. I posted a tutorial on how I do one in the tutorials section. It sounds like your probably over exposing for the sun, as you can get focus on the moon. Try adding a Barlow and see if that helps.

You don't mention it in your first post, but did you make the solar film cell or buy one ?

[Trillian]

I made my own with some Baader Solar Filter Film, and a plant pot! A real Blue Peter effort.

Thankyou everyone for your replies, I have a few things I can try out next time now.

I really want to have a go at a lunar mosaic at some point too and have seen some spectacular results on the forum. I will definately check out your tutorial John.

[jgs001]

Is the solar film stretched At all ? That will cause odd issues.

God luck with a mosaic

[Trillian]

No it's not stretched. What kind of issues could that cause if it was?