(Update 12 Jan) AR1040 – Canon 40D & DMK31 Baader Solar Film

[Dennis]

Hello,

Here are a couple of white light views of AR1040 from 11th Jan; one with the Canon 40D, the other with the DMK31AF04.AS. Both taken through the Tak Mewlon 180 F12 with Tak x1.6 Extender at an efl of 3456mm (F19.2) using a full aperture Bader Solar Film.

The jet stream map promised better seeing that I actually encountered, so the results are softer than I had expected. Still, it was good to get out and swelter under a fierce Qld Sun once more!

Cheers

Dennis

EDIT: Images from 12th Jan added in msg#7

[leinad (Dan)]

That's quite impressive Dennis!!
Looks like I better start saving

How did you track at that focal length?

[peter_4059 (Peter)]

Great images Dennis. It's good to see the weather finally cooperating - too bad my mount is still in pieces (perhaps that's why it's cleared up)



Peter

[Dennis]

Originally Posted by leinad

That's quite impressive Dennis!!
Looks like I better start saving

How did you track at that focal length?

Thanks Leinad!

The mount is motor driven and tracks in RA at the sidereal rate, whilst I sit and watch the computer screen to make small adjustments with the RA motor buttons when a distinct feature drifts off the mouse cursor, which acts as a marker.

The Canon 40D shot was a single exposure at 1/1000 second whereas the DMK31 shot came from a stack of around 470 frames from a 1200 frame avi.

I used the photographic Baader Film in a home made, full aperture solar filter which you CANNOT use visually. This really helps keep the shutter speed high in an attempt to freeze the seeing.

Cheers

Dennis

[Dennis]

Originally Posted by peter_4059

Great images Dennis. It's good to see the weather finally cooperating - too bad my mount is still in pieces (perhaps that's why it's cleared up)



Peter

Thanks Peter!

Sorry to hear about your mount – was this planned maintenance or unexpected problems? Anyway, hope you get it fixed soon although clouds are due to return tomorrow!

Cheers

Dennis

[peter_4059 (Peter)]

Dennis,

I decided to become intimate with the internal workings...so planned.

Still waiting on parts to arrive from US so it should be clear again tomorrow night.

Regards,

Peter

[Dennis]

Here's a couple from Tuesday, 12th January.

Cheers

Dennis

[Matt Wastell (Matt)]

Great work Dennis!
Look at all those spots!
I hope to get out again soon.
Thanks for posting.

[leinad (Dan)]

More nice work Dennis.
Ever thought about mixing some Ha ?
Would make those images look superb!

[Paul Haese]

Very nice images Dennis.

I would like to make a small point about seeing. Many seem to think that the presence of the jet stream or its absence are totally indicative of what the seeing conditions are like. This is in fact not true and I am always trying to inform people as to what can affect seeing.

Good seeing can be obtained even when the jet stream is present. So long as the interaction between the middle level air stream and the jet stream are travelling at a similar speed and direction. Good seeing can be seen even when local winds are present.

Terrestrial conditions also affect seeing. Steep slopes and gullies near by can totally ruin seeing. Large trees etc can also create problems too.

The whole gamit of of conditions can prevail to either give you good seeing or bad seeing. My best night of imaging came when the jet stream on Unisys and WXmaps suggested that the jet stream was moving at 70ms.

My recent Mars/ Saturn and Lunar images came on nights when jet stream was supposed to be 40ms. My location made the real difference and the conditions on the night all came together.

My point being, don't rely on jet stream predictions for the nights or days you image. Go look for yourself.

Rant over, sorry for the diversion and nice images once again.

[Merlin66 (Ken)]

Dennis,
I've added a 2" Baader Continuum filter into my Baader Solar filter set-up with the ED80. I find it improves the white light constrast.
All I need now is to dig my way out of 150mm of snow, and wait until the Sun clears the local buildings......maybe by April!!!



Ken

[Dennis]

Originally Posted by Matt Wastell

Great work Dennis!
Look at all those spots!
I hope to get out again soon.
Thanks for posting.

Thanks Matt! Your enthusiasm, images and posts have been a source of inspiration to me, lifting me out of my astronomy slump to rejoin battle with the fickle Brisbane weather!

Cheers

Dennis

[Dennis]

Originally Posted by Paul Haese

Very nice images Dennis.

I would like to make a small point about seeing.....

Rant over, sorry for the diversion and nice images once again.

Thanks Paul – I appreciate you sharing your knowledge and experience of seeing/weather systems in the pursuit of hi-res imaging. Your words were more of a thoughtful and educational post rather than a rant!

Cheers

Dennis

[Liz]

Well done again Dennis!!
..... and congrats for pic being on SpaceWeather
SpaceWeather says that Sunspot 1040 has doubled in size, the doubled again over the last 2 days!!

[Matt Wastell (Matt)]

Good to see a fellow Queensland Solar enthusiast on speceweather!
Yeah!!!!!