Sun Spotting

[Popeye]

It's been a while since I have visited this site. And I can't say that I have been too busy. :shrug: But I would like some input on a possible purchase.
I am interested in getting a Coronado Ha PST. Have just read Al Sheehan's report and it sounds great. Also on a recent visit to Western Australia I asked a member of ASWA what she thought of hers and the reply was positive. But I could not get to her place and there are no retailers in Perth. I am a bit wary about buying something unseen and it would take a flight from Launceston to Melbourne to get to see one. So I am asking if anyone else has one of these scopes and if so, what do they think of them.
This all started with an idea that I might get some Baader film and make a filter for my LX90 but Ha is a better look. I have only once had a quick glance into a scope with an expensive Ha filter and liked what I saw. But will the Coronado match up? :help:
Cheers!
Popeye

[casstony]

Hi Popeye, the detail I see on the disc is relatively poor and I wouldn't bother to own a pst if the disc was all I could view. You're better off observing sunspots with with a white light filter on a small refractor. IMHO.

However the detail visible at the limb is spectacular. If you can imagine drawing fine fibres of cotton wool away from the Sun's surface, that is somewhat reminiscent of the detail visible in the prominences.

While I haven't looked through better instruments, I can't imagine the detail looking any better at the limb while I can imagine it being a hell of a lot better on the disc. The double stacked pst apparently gives a large improvement in disc detail. Hope that subjective description helps.

[Popeye]

Thanks for that, Tony.
I received an overwhelming positive response from others that I contacted and even a photo of what it looks like in the EP. Based on that I ordered one this morning and should have it by Monday or Tuesday. (Things happen a bit slow around St Helens!) :lol:
One of my contacts stressed the importance of 'tuning' it for want of a better description.
Hope that you get some better results later and I will keep you informed of my experiences when I get the scope. And of course, when the rain goes in a few weeks. That's usually the case when you buy a new scope, isn't it? :whistle:
Cheers!
Bert

[iceman]

Hi Bert

I've looked through a few PST's, but don't own one. What Tony says is spot on. For disc detail (visually) you can see some granulation and filaments occassionally, but the limb detail is usually where the most spectacular view is.

They are great for photography of the Sun, too. Do a search through the solar system forum for "PST" and you'll see a few images posted.

[csb]

I got a PST this year and it's great.

The view through the ep isn't as spectacular as when using a camera to get an image on the laptop.

Visually you get a red disc with very slight surface granulation, but you really need to squint to notice it. It's very easy to see the proms/flares on the limb.

It's also very easy to tune - I don't know why some people have found it difficult.

A 6mm eyepiece is a must, then you can get a quarter of the disc to view.

I've also just got set up with a DMK ccd camera and WOW! Fantastic views. I could see the granulation very easy. Too cloudy to do much else yet.

I can't believe you're getting one so soon after ordering. I tried several stores and ALL orders were going to be at least a month, many were a longer wait.

It helps to wear a cap/hat to cut down the glare. I'm looking at making a sunshield similar to one that can be bought.

Good luck with the viewing

[Popeye]

Thanks for your input, Mike and Craig.
Been a bit busy to look at this site the last couple of days so sorry about the delay in answering.
I expect to get the scope tomorrow so I can give some feedback on how I see things. But that pre-supposes that there will not be any cloud here. It's a beautiful day to-day - golf and lunch out in the sun. Wonderful. I suppose I will destroy all that when the scope arrives!:lol:
I suppose I was lucky, Craig. Apparently Bintel had an order delivered the week I wanted one. My mate in Melbourne had been waiting for four weeks and thought that it would take longer but was pleased when it arrived early.
Not into photography and computers much. Bit of a luddite I suppose so I will have to satisfy myself with what I can see with the 'Mark 1 Eyeball.' I do have a 6mm Orthoscopic EP with a flange to allow it to fit into the 1.25" diagonal. I use it for collimating my LX90. So will be interested to see how effective it is.
Cheers!
Bert
(Now a silent prayer for blue skies tomorrow and the day after and....) :whistle:

[csb]

A golfing cap will be perfect.:)

[Popeye]

Awwww! It didn't arrive today either! AND I had a lousy game of golf thinking that I would at least come back to find the PST at home. NO? Just the power bill AND its become overcast AND rain is forecast for tomorrow. :(
Woe is me!
After my 8" LX90 below, add '40mm Coronado PST' - TBA :lol:
Cheers!
Bert

[Glenhuon]

You have that problem too popeye. Just bought a new 'scope here, been overcast since it arrived :( Was remarking to the person I bought it from its the way to break the drought, everyone buy a telescope :)

[Popeye]

I think it must be put up as a law. (As in laws of physics etc.) that buying a new telescope will bring rain. :lol:
Cheers!
Bert

[casstony]

This link has comparison images of what you might see at different bandpass:
http://www.geocities.com/solarobserversleague/
The pst is similar to the last image, although there is probably a little more disc detail visible.

[Popeye]

Thanks, Tony. I have added it to my 'Favourites.' Been a hectic day and I am about to shut the computer down.
For those who have been following the thread and hanging on (not to the thread it could break,) for news of delivery of the PST it didn't arrive today either!
Sooooo. A phone call to Bintel informed me that the scope was not sent until Monday and went to my old address in Penguin by registered mail. I have just bought a Stellar Chair from them so how my >3 yrear old address is still on file beats me! Sooooo. I called the post office at Penguin (after going through the central telephone station somewhere else in the nation,) and the woman that I spoke to had her hand on the parcel and was about to return it to Melbourne. Now she has re-addressed it and I should get it Friday! (Wish there was something like fireworks instead of smilies.) But like apathy - who cares? Its gunna be raining here all weekend anyway! :mad2:
Cheers!? :whistle:
Bert

[csb]

Good you caught the PO in time to get parcal redirected.

And that's one of the great things with the PO, they redirect & ReturnToSender for no charge.

[Popeye]

Well CSB and others you are not going to believe this! Remember how I ordered my PST from the Melbourne branch of Bintel LAST Friday and was informed that it should be here in St Helens by last Monday or Tuesday? And do you remember how when it wasn't here on Wednesday I called Bintel and found that it had been sent to my old address in Penguin in spite of having my new address read to me by the Bintel rep as he had recently sent me a Stellar Chair? And do you recall that I called Penguin Post Office straight away and caught the parcel before it was sent back to Bintel and the nice folk at Penguin Post Office redirected it to me here in St Helens? OK. I can be a patient even though I was a bit annoyed that this muck-up had taken place. So today is a beautiful sunny day and my wife and I went down in the freezing cold to get a golf game in so that I would be here when the scope arrived. Well it arrived just on lunch time. Hooray! You might say. But NO! :mad2: When I unpacked the carton I found that the inner box had been opened - no problem. I got the very nice case out and opened it up and guess what? NO TELESCOPE!!!!! Just the empty EP case and the objective cover! Call to Bintel and it appears that my scope is still on display in Bintel's shop and some galah has simply put the empty case into the post to me (at the wrong address!) :screwy: I was kindly informed that extra postage would be on Bintel and that I had to push to get it sent Express Post! If this wasn't a family site I might be a bit more expressive in my language! :whistle:
Would you also believe that it is still a bright sunny day here?
I might have a Mogodon sandwich and meditate for about 8 hours! :(
Cheers?
Bert

[casstony]

Hmm........perhaps it will turn up with some extra little pressie to make amends?

[nightsky]

G'Day Bert,
I've been following this thread since the start,and I have to say I would be
eating a stronger sandwich than the Mogodon one :) Pity you didn't purchase it from the Sydney branch as Don and Mick would have sent it to you "Pronto" and to the right address ;) sounds like the mob at the Melb branch have been eating to many Mogodon sandwich's :lol:
Cheers
Arthur

[Popeye]

Well Arthur, after an e-mail to Mike I had Don call and apologise profusely. He indicated that the scope was on the way via Express Post and that there was 'something extra' in the parcel from the 'boys' to say that they were sorry. I have calmed down now without the sandwich and didn't get time to meditate! :lol:
I used to live in Umina in another lifetime and my sister lives at Lake Munmorah. Nice area but a bit hot and humid for me nowadays.
Cheers!
Bert

[casstony]

Glad to hear it's all working out Bert. Given that they all make mistakes it certainly imparts confidence when the dealer puts in the extra effort to make things right. At least you have a good story to tell - I can imagine the look on your face when you opened that empty box.

[csb]

Oh my!

Well Solar mnimum is slowly moving on, so no rush there.

[Popeye]

A few people have asked for a photo of my face when I opened the case. Unfortunately none was taken as the situation was naturally unknown.
I have to admit that this is very unlike Bintel as I have had good service from them in the past.
I just wonder if someone 'up there' is testing to see how much patience I have! :whistle: I think that I failed miserably, but I can see the funny side of it all now.
Will keep you posted on how it all turns out.
Cheers!
Bert

[Blue Skies]

Blimey, Bert! You seem to the get the wrong end of the stick a bit too often with telescopes (she says remembering your etx saga of some years ago...) Hope you're not disappointed when it does come. But please be patient while the sun's at solar minimum! I got a few looks through Val's while the sun was still active a few years ago and it quite fascinating viewing.

[Popeye]

Now if only I got a hint so that I could place you. :) Please read Oggie Doggie's last post and my reply and try to get him to contact ASWA. I fear that he is about to get bitten.
I am sure that it will be all that I want from the PST. I spoke to Val when I was in Perth a couple of weeks ago and she was rapt in the PST and chided me for wasting time getting one! Typical? :lol:
Cheers!
Bert

[Popeye]

Uh! Blue Skies I meant Simon, not Oggie Doggie. Got distracted as I sent the last post. ;)
BTW Val has my e-mail address.
Cheers!
Bert

[CoombellKid]

You should be able to see surface granulation very well in the PST. I do in
mine, the only thing thats limiting this at present is that the sun is lower
in the north during winter, and jet streams tend to muddy the view of the
granulated surface. Surface filaments are quite common in my expience,
but usually more common around sunspots or groups. I tend to find in my
PST filter tuner needs to be tuned for each of these features independently
for the best results.

Like anything in astronomy the higher the altitude of the object the better
the view. So summer time you will get better views when the sun is high
in the sky. It really does make a heap of difference

enjoy your PST it's a great lil scope for what it is. Yes you can go out and
buy a double. But really a PST by itself will give you a heap of enjoyment.

regards,CS

[Popeye]

Thanks for those encouraging observations (pardon the pun,) Chris.
I look forward to delivery today - and its a sunny day! :lol:
Cheers!
Bert

[Popeye]

It arrived at 9.30am! :thumbsup: Had it out straight away and will need to do some more tinkering. Saw some prominences and actually saw one start up! But the EP supplied is not much chop so I used one of my 15mm Plossls and got a better view. Then I applied my 2x Barlow to the 15mm and had the devil of a time trying to focus it. In fact I didn't get it focused.
This is not helped by the rickety camera tripod that I have it set up on. But I will learn - given time. And its a nice sunny day here in St Helens. (I'm a few degrees lower than you are, Chris. So the sun is even more northerly!
Cheers!
Bert
PS Bintel kindly supplied a Meade Electronic Eyepiece as an 'extra' for the problems that I had.

[Glenhuon]

Hope you are having as much fun as I did today popeye. Had my first full day of solar observing with the 60mm and the Baader film filter. Took me a while to pick up the tiny spots and spent another hour or two changing filters to try and bring it out a bit more. Couldn't pick up anything on the limb, but thats something to look forward to. Never thought solar observing could be so absorbing :)

[Popeye]

Sorry that I have not responded earlier. We have had some really wild weather here in Tassie in the last few days and my ISP kept dropping in and out. :whistle:
It cleared yesterday and I had a quick (15 minute look,) but had to spend a few hours clearing up after the 3 day storm. Not much happening but a few prominences. However they are a marvel to see. Once again this morning (before golf and then the clouds rolling in again,) I got another 15 minutes in and this time apart from 3 small prominences there was one of those ragged black lines but I cannot recall what it is called or what causes it. Also beginning to tune the thing so that I can just make out faculae. I had to drop the camera tripod by one leg length to steady it for focusing and tuning and that has worked. I have ordered an EQ2 from Bintel and expect it to arrive tomorrow. (Had a courtesy call last Friday to tell me that Graham was taking it to the Post Office to send it at that time.) After that I will work on how to fit the PST to the mount. It should not only be more steady but will enable me to use the slow mo controls and not the rough 'n ready jerking around of the camera tripod.
Cheers!
Bert