Sun in white light + supplimentary filters

[Merlin66]

Got some sun early this morning. Nothing visible on the surface, AR1005 seems to have faded from view.
Using the ED80 with the JMB solar filter, this gives a clean white image at about x50. There were hints of surface granulation and texture.
Put some coloured filters in the AE filter wheel to see if any of them made any difference to the view ( in terms of contrast or resolution). Couldn't focus with the TV diagonal! ended up going straight through and found I was at the opposite limit of travel! Needed to ease the eyepiece out by 10mm.
Results:
Yellow#15 , Blue#80a, Red#23a , Red#25 made no real difference
Green#56 - this filter seemed to make the surface granulations and texture more obvious. Worth re-trying when there's a bit more activity.
Also tried:
Meade Series 4000, Narrowband LPR - blueish image but no impact on resolution.
and
Baader 7nm Ha - expected improved contrast, but other than dimming the view, not much better detail seen ( if any!)
So the conclusion was, if working in white light maybe a Green filter may make the surface detail easier to see.

[casstony]

Maybe combine the narrow band and green to take a slice out of the green but cut off the ends of the spectrum? (just off the top of my head)

I could see the active region around midday today with a small associated filament, but the spot was gone. The spot was still there yesterday. I had to look hard to find the AR but once I knew where it was it stood out well - still honing my observing skills - there's more detail to be seen with the Lunt vs the pst. (working at about 30x mag)

[Merlin66]

Hmmm I'll try the Green and narrow band combo, but I think with the OIII/Hbeta/Halpha cut-offs it won't make a lot of difference... there's not much green going to get through!
In Ha using the SM60/BF15 plenty of small active areas to be seen and a couple of bright but small proms.
I'm glad the Lunt is performing for you, sounds like it could be a good Ha scope.

[Merlin66]

Tried the green and narrow band combo... no good. The narrowband kills the wider green image which, as it's close to the peak sensitivity of the eye, shows a bit more detail. I thinks that's why Baader market and sell their "Continuum" filters for visual solar work. A cheap Green filter I'm sure would work just as well!!
A little surprised that the narrow band Ha ( 7nm) didn't show more than it did??????

[AstralTraveller]

I've got a Baader continuum filter and find it works quite well, certainly a big improvement over white light. I also imagine that it works better than a generic green filter but by how much I can't say. Next time I do any solar viewing (you know, if we ever get any more sunspots) I'll compare the continuum to a generic green filter.

I believe the 7nm width of the Ha filter is too wide for solar viewing. You let in too much of the continuum and swamp the Ha.

[Merlin66]

Having now used it for the last couple of weeks, I can say the use of a Green filter with a Solar screen definately enhances the visual image.
I would not go back to the plain white light solar filter. Definately worth trying!!