[sheeny (Al)]

Originally Posted by lesbehrens

hi. my interest in solar observing has increased. (I've seen the light ). i am looking at buying a solar telescope of my own and well i have a few q's.

1. when i use my astro clubs PST i only saw solar proms and sun spots. i was wondering i u can see filaments and flares with that type of scope?
2. can u only use Coronado's eyepieces to magnify the sun more with a Coronado scope? mine didn't get a good focus.
3. if i got a bigger aperture scope will i see more proms etc or just get a more detailed view of the sun?.

i have looked at the Coronado web site and looked at the images taken through other scopes. the PST showed proms, spots, filaments. is this only seen when u photograph the sun? or the time i had the PST none were about on the sun? (i know the sun has been quiet).

Are there any other tips u could give me on my adventure?

thanks
les

G'Day Les,

You should be able to see spots, proms, filaments, etc. You should be able to see the "orange peel" on the surface of the sun.

I found that it took me a while to learn to focus the PST well. It also takes a while to train you eye to view the Ha image in the scope. There's not a lot of contrast there with a standard PST.

I read where someone wrote in a thread here that they didn't reckon double stacking a PST was worth it. I found the new price of the SM40 filter a bit steep, but I recently picked up a second hand one through IT from Rob Greaves and I must say, thanks to a few tips from Rob, that it has made a significant improvement to my PST. Much more contrast, so achieving focus is easier and there's more detail to see.

You are not limited to Coronado EPs. My 13mm Nagler works a treat, but I do have a set of Cemax EPs now that I mostly use with the PST.

A bigger aperture, I would imagine, would give you the opportunity to go to higher magnifications and more resolution (if seeing permits it). The only Ha scope I've used is the PST, so if anyone with more solar experience can correct me there pease do so!

Al.