Successful day at Scouts

traveller (Bo) · #1 11-09-2016, 09:03 PM

Thanks to Colin (Atmos) and Malcolm (Barx1963), I was able to assist with my sons' scout science day today.
The day went off really well, but the clouds came after midday.
Despite this, I was able to do some live viewing using Malcolm's double stack Lunt 60mm and used Colin's PST for casual viewing.
I even managed to get a couple of quick videos grabs once I worked out the tuning. I will post the image up in the imaging section soon.
But in the meantime here are a couple of photos.
Bo

barx1963 (Malcolm) · #2 11-09-2016, 09:05 PM

Well done Bo, glad you were able to make good use of the scope!!

Cheers

Malcolm

StuTodd · #3 11-09-2016, 09:17 PM

The IIS community is a fantastic place to be!

traveller (Bo) · #4 11-09-2016, 09:18 PM

It was a crowd pleaser Malcolm, esp when I grabbed a video and showed them a stacked image of the Sun (which I will upload separately).
I just need to convince SWMBO of a solar scope investment!
Bo

Atmos (Colin) · #5 11-09-2016, 09:27 PM

Glad to hear it went well Bo

How do you think that the Lunt compared in image quality to the PST?

The Lunt has a larger aperture and is a double stack, better in pretty much every way really

traveller (Bo) · #6 11-09-2016, 09:37 PM

I think the Lunt *just* had the edge over the PST

Many people were equally impressed with the PST as it is their first time looking at the sun, there was a large prominence at 3 o'clock position in the morning and many dads were awe struck (the kids were too, but somehow the dads seems to be getting bigger kicks!).
The double stack is amazing, the amount of details is incredible.
Bo

Atmos (Colin) · #7 11-09-2016, 09:58 PM

From what I'd read a few years ago, the double stack PST was twice the price but it gave an approx 30% increase in visual experience. I am sure the extra aperture of the Lunt makes a pretty big difference too. 2.25x the light gathering power and all

barx1963 (Malcolm) · #8 11-09-2016, 10:14 PM

Having looked through my Lunt, my old SM60, some PSTs, single and double stacked and Pauls excellent SM40, there are some differences between them. The double stack on the Lunt made the image similar in brightness to the PST. The advantage was simply in the amount of detail and the ability to handle more magnification. THe double stack PST was quite dim. VIew between the SM60 and the Lunt were very similar, when unshackled. main advantage of the Lunt is the FT focuser that makes imaging soooo much easier.

THe SM40 was simply spectacular for it's size, lovely little scope!

Malcolm

Atmos (Colin) · #9 11-09-2016, 10:18 PM

I've drooled over a Lunt for a while. Attempted to image with my PST and failed miserably. I think I'll have to get another QHY 5LII or something of that shape and short back focus again as it is the only thing that can get close enough to achieve focus using that tiny little silver knob!

traveller (Bo) · #10 11-09-2016, 10:29 PM

I found the PST quite nice as a visual scope, quite a lot of detail when I slipped on a dark hood over my head to maximise the contrast (though I did use my Tak eyepiece as well).
I haven't had the time to image through the PST, but Colin, you are welcome to borrow my QHYII5-L any time.
The first cut of the image is up now, the focus looks a bit off as the compression to JPG took some detail away.
Bo