Here is an attempt at imaging some detail on the sun in Hydrogen-alpha. Not a patch on Paul's (Rumplesriot) image, but at least I think I've found out how to make the camera work properly now... The seeing was awful, which I am hoping is the reason I couldn't pick up much detail. I believe the darker filaments on the sun are the overhead view of the prominences that were visible a few days ago on the sun's limb.
If you read this one Paul, I'd be keen to know what settings you use to acquire your avis (frame rate, gain etc). Lots to learn.
Actually these are pretty good given that it is your second attempt.
Ok a check list of things to do.
1. Image just after sun up or as soon as the sun rises. This can result is superb seeing. I also have a nice time of 4pm, I don't know why but seeing can be nice then too.
2. play with focus for at least 5 minutes. It is worth the effort.
3. I go for the fastest frame rate possible and image for 40 seconds. I usually end up with around 55fps.
4. Watch your histogram for gain settings. Get it to no more than 250 on an 8 bit histo.
5. Now for the real secret (I guess it won't be anymore but what the hell). Turn your gamma down well below what is normally set at for default. Now if you have the DMK you are stuffed, because as I recall it is defaulted at 1 and does not go lower than that. With the skynyx I always image at 0.66 to increase the level of contrast on the solar features. I was asked this recently by another fellow Ha imager and he was not doing this. As soon as he started doing it his images went from average to super.
6. try to use as much magnification as you can. I use a 5x powermate on my solarmax 60 which gives me around 2,000mm. The detail is always better than using lesser magnification.
7. When the seeing is good, the solar features will be very sharp and well defined. If the image is going in and out of focus very quickly just pack up for the day. I have a nice avi of superb solar seeing and I could mail it to you if you are interested. That way you will know what to look for and what the tonal range you are aiming for.
it just shows us how small we really are in this universe and how severe it is out there, well done.
