Transit Preparation - swapped out the 14" Meade for the 127ED and the 60mm lunt SBS

[h0ughy]

Well with some help from Scott and Al i swapped over the 14" for the sbs setup with the Meade 127ED and the lunt. now i will be honest - i haven't done much in the way of solar work - and i would consider myself in newbie territory there. So i have the 60mm lunt with a double stack option and a DMK41, and a 127Ed, with a thousand oaks solar filter and a cooled 40D. Can run both on the one PC and i have an option of running a DMK21 on an ed80. So i have all the gear on and absolutely no knowledge of using them properly and only a few weeks to learn.

from the "test images" i need to clean the diagonal and the DMK41 as well as the thousand oaks filter. and the corrector of the 127. I haven't used that scope since astrofest last year.:help:

i spent this morning aligning the two scopes and getting centralised images in both, then tried to focus - man that is hard:screwy: the seeing changes things so much

[traveller]

That's awesome Houghy, the best I am hoping for is a baader film home brew filter over an AZ 60mm. :(

[h0ughy]

yeah i have that as well as a backup - or if i have to resort to a camera lens and travel - which i hope i wont but the forecast looks like rain and cloud is predicted but i hope that is not the case

[Octane]

You're lucky you have a filter!

H

[h0ughy]

no luck i planned that years ago, made sure that with each scope i bought i had a solar filter. the 14 tricked me up - so i opted for some "safety"

[h0ughy]

i am also a bit unhappy that the DMK41 doesnt give a clear solar disk in the lunt

[Octane]

I never thought I'd ever do any solar/planetary imaging, and, I'm kicking myself now. :( Moreso because it's the only one we'll see in our lifetimes.

I've spent a while creating different fields of view (in Starry Night Pro Plus 6) with the two scopes that I have, with and without POWERMATE and the Takahashi Extender-Q. The FSQ-106N with the Extender-Q 1.6x and a full frame camera looks like a wonderful combination.

Looks like bodgie film solution for me.

H

[Octane]

Mick from Bintel is chasing up some Kendrick/Baader filters tomorrow. :D

H

[h0ughy]

I suppose the real question is how do i focus on the sun?

[h0ughy]

with the weather forecast i may just end up removing it off the titan and use it on the eq6 somewhere dry and clear.

one thought i had to keep the sun centralised is using Al sheeny's collimator overlay on the APT capture screen wit hthe crosshairs on - so if it drifts you can re-centre it exactly

[Dennis]

Hi Dave

Nice set up and it looks like you’ve got all angles covered!

Cheers

Dennis

[sheeny]

Same as we all do... twiddle till its sharp(ish)...:P:lol: (That's a technical term!;))

Nice setup Dave.

Al.

[traveller]

And this is my low-tech/economical setup. Don't laugh (ok, maybe a giggle).
I call it "the Jet-Star, woooohhhhhahhhahha" (Dr Evil in Austin Powers) :lol:

[h0ughy]

i still have a few more Dennis, but they rely on my contingency plan;) i have spare baader films a C11 and g11, astrotrac's x2 and video 36 x optical video camera for the really desperate situation

[h0ughy]

Ahh but its the way its twiddled. Dennis for example is a first class twiddler:lol::D:P where as i rank myself in cattle class:question:

[h0ughy]

well its portable:thumbsup:

[tornado33]

Nice one, lots of solar photons waiting to be soaked up :)
Scott

[h0ughy]

i hope the weather holds up

[Poita]

I think extravision still have some 60mm readymade Baader filter for $27.
http://www.extravision.com.au/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=1324

[Poita]

If you strike out, Extravision have a 4" Baader solar filter that might suit.
http://www.extravision.com.au/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=1312

[Poita]

What do you mean by a clear solar disk? That it doesn't fit, or that it isn't sharp?

[h0ughy]

wel first that it doesnt fit - the not being sharp must be me

[Octane]

Thank you, Peter!

I haven't heard back from Bintel or Kendrick, so far, so, might be a goer.

H

[Octane]

Hrm, looks like it's the visual film and not the photographic film?

H

[mithrandir]

What were you planning on doing H? The 3.8 film is not supposed to be suitable for DSLRs and an absolute no-no for visual.

[Octane]

I wanted to photograph it. If the 3.8 film is unsuitable, what are my options?

Cheers!

H

[Poita]

Use the standard 'visual' Astro-solar film, it is 5 instead of 3.8 and it works fine for DSLR and gets great images.

I know extravision has both films in stock, (or the pre-built 4" one) not sure who else has any left.

[Poita]

It is a shame it doesn't squeeze into frame, will a reducer work?

If you adjust your DMK capture settings a little, I think you will get more detail, or process it a little darker. My 10 second go on your jpeg is attached, you can do much better from the raw avi file.

[Shark Bait]

Sirius Optics in Brisbane, QLD had a good supply of both 5 & 3.8 last time I visited the store.

[Octane]

Thanks, Peter.

I'll hit 'em up. Bintel got back to me and they're only getting visual filters in at this stage. And, the one they're getting are a touch smaller than my tube diameter. They mentioned to hit up Extravision.

H

[Octane]

I just bought the Mylar 4.5 ND5 filter. It was discounted $20, as it's a scratch and dent model.

Will see how it goes!

Thanks, again, Peter and Andrew.

H

[Poita]

I don't think the mylar ones give quite as good an image, but it will let you see the transit up close and personal, and the price can't be beat!

[Octane]

Oh, so the Mylar film isn't the Baader solar film? I could cancel my order if it isn't the right one.

I'm a complete newbie when it come to this and am doing it all in a rush. Oops.

http://www.extravision.com.au/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=1298

That's what I got.

H

[h0ughy]

not sure only needs to be a little bit doesnt it? i wonder if a 0.85 reducer would work?:question:

[originaltrilogy]

You are safe. The filter you link to is not mylar film, is Baader Astrosolar film. It is one you want so enjoy!

[Poita]

I would ring them and find out which one it is.
The title says Mylar filter, but the text says it is ND5 Baader AstroSolar film (which is what you want).
Hopefully it is the right one!

[Octane]

Thanks, guys.

It was sent by StarTrack Express yesterday so it should be here today some time.

If it's not the right one, I'll send it back.

Cheers!

H

[Poita]

Not sure how to tell. If it has to go back, get them to send you this one:
http://www.extravision.com.au/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=1312

[Octane]

That was the one I was going to get, but decided on the slightly bigger one, thinking I can always pad the filter to fit the FSQ. :)

Cheers!

H

[h0ughy]

man i have to really learn to process - i had a hack at one of the videos. its a whole lotta learning. suppose i will have over 180 years to get it right until next time:rofl: note to self -its a tad overdone in parts and under processed in others

[h0ughy]

LOL my stock receiver has informed me that the bintel 0.5 1.25" reducer has arrived - will use this on the dmk41 to reduce the view and fit on the chip