Sun Spots today

[sheeny (Al)]

This is, I think, my best solar image so far. It's not very good, but it's my best in terms of solar detail...

Captured with the ToUcam through the PST, 3x barlow lens and UV/IR filter. I still struggle with focus, and the scope is on a fixed tripod (I need to come up with a simple tracking solution for it!). There are many artifacts in the image, the lines sloping down from right to left are the direction of drift across the CCD. Some of the others are wavelet induced.

Image was stacked R4 (that was fun in itself). Processing in PS CS3 included levels, curves, B&W colourisation and save for the web.


I'll have a play with some of the un-waveletted files after I get back from picking up the kids...

Al.

[[1ponders] (Paul)]

It's a hard job with just the ToUcam Al. Try running it through a splitter program and just process the red AVI channel and see how you go. You might even find that there is leakage across the channels and the green might be a better go. The red was best in mine, but you never know.

This is one of those situations where the monochrome camera is going to leave the ol' ToUcam sitting in its own...dust.

[sheeny (Al)]

I captured it as B&W Paul. I'm guessing your suggestion would apply had I captured in colour? I might try that next time.

I realise a mono camera like the DMK will do a much better job, but I think I've got a long way to go yet with solar imaging! I'm still battling with the basics, like focus, exposure, etc.

Al.

[CoombellKid]

Al,

You (if you already have a tripod) should score that EQ5 that was going in
the buy and sell forum. Thats what I used to mount my PST on. Actually
since doderising my 8" newt that all the EQ5 ever gets used for.

regards,CS