Solar Viewing - Help Please

[Shark Bait (Stu)]

I am gearing up for some solar viewing and have hit a snag. I cannot find any option to view the Sun on the SynScan Handset that controls my Sky-Watcher 12" GoTo Dob.

There must be a way to get this scope to autotrack our Sun. My goal is to have it track for the Venus Transit.

Has anyone used this system to autotrack the Sun? How do I get the SynScan Controller to do this?

Thanks.

[mozzie (Peter)]

stu
don,t own a skyscan but with the meade controller you can manually enter your r.a -dec can you do that....grab a copy of astronomy 2012 sun section all your times there..

hope this hepls

[Shark Bait (Stu)]

Thanks Peter,

I am performing a rough dummy run from inside the house using the method you described. We have a blanket of cloud at the moment so the real test will have to wait.

I have located the solar tracking mode setting and entered the RA & Dec manually.

The little Celestron has the Sun as an object, but the synscan doesn't. Must be a safety feature.

[Merlin66 (Ken)]

I use the Synscan controller on my HEQ5 for solar imaging...
I use the direction buttons to slew/locate on the sun and then use the solar tracking rate....

[mozzie (Peter)]

the meade has no sun either but andrewj patched pluto as the sun so people can solar view..

[Shark Bait (Stu)]

Thanks Merlin66. I think I am on the right path now. I have set up another dummy run following your directions. I have set it up to follow my imaginary Sun and it appears to be tracking. I will be more confident in another hour or so.

Nice tip Peter. I have found the option to add 25 user objects. When this dummy run is complete I will try to add the Sun.

[Merlin66 (Ken)]

Is there any particular reason you want the Sun as a GOTO object?
It's usually pretty easy to find ;-)

[Shark Bait (Stu)]

Originally Posted by Merlin66

Is there any particular reason you want the Sun as a GOTO object?
It's usually pretty easy to find ;-)

Not lately Merlin. I will have to order that expensive cloud filter from Bintel.

Today I spent some time going through the menu options and focused on the areas that I have not needed to use yet. The 25 user objects remain unused at this stage.

I have to say that I find the SynScan controller to be a little quirky. I think I prefer the menu system on the older Celestron.

Thanks again for your help. I have it sorted now.

[Poita (Peter)]

Yeah, it is a little annoying not having the Sun as a goto object, what I do is get the scope pointed roughly at the sun, then use the shadow of the scope to know when it is pretty much spot on, then look through the eyepiece.

[OICURMT]

Originally Posted by Shark Bait

I will have to order that expensive cloud filter from Bintel.

shouldn't an IR filter do? Seems to work for observing the center of the Galaxy through all that dust etc. for stuff around A*...

[The_bluester (Paul)]

On my celestron you can do a goto for the sun but you have to drill down a couple of menu levels to enable it first as a safety feature.

[Shark Bait (Stu)]

Originally Posted by OICURMT

shouldn't an IR filter do? Seems to work for observing the center of the Galaxy through all that dust etc. for stuff around A*...

Cheers Oicurmt, now your talking. I will get onto Bintel tomorrow.

Thanks for the info Peter & Paul. This little exercise has allowed me to become familiar with all of the handset features that I have not needed to use. So it has been worthwhile.

I will be picking up some Baader Solar Film this week. There should be enough in one sheet to make up filters for the 12" Dob's 50mm dia dust cover hole, 7x50 binos and the 80GTL refractor. It should all be ready to go for the weekend. Hope we get some clear skies. Can't wait to catch some rays.