Orpington Astronomical Society

Astronomy => Telescopes Etcetera.... => Topic started by: Rocket Pooch on Jun 14, 2011, 08:37:21

Title: It's not going to be sunny for a while!
Post by: Rocket Pooch on Jun 14, 2011, 08:37:21
Hi,

Working on the basis that when someone gets a new telescope its not clear at night, I just had 1st light with my Baader Solar Wedge and a 120mm F8 Skywatcher scope I picked up for £110 (its in perfect nick, the wedge costs 5x the scope?).

If you have never looked through a white light wedge with a solar continum filter you don't know what your missing, it really is fantastic, with a 20mm eyepiece I get the full sun and a little space around it :-)  You see all the surface detail, sun spots and also the cracks and movement in the surface, no prominances this is the domain of a Ha or K filter, although I can't see anything with a K I've tried.

Here's an image of the little baby, I need to adjust the focuser so its smoooth, but it all works and has enough back focus for the DSLR, ED series do not!  It's a bit misty this morning but I have pushed the scope upto approx 120x with no issues.


(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3487/5831992446_2a50dcef8c_b.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/13007140@N05/5831992446/)
IMG_1882 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/13007140@N05/5831992446/) by chrissuddell (http://www.flickr.com/people/13007140@N05/), on Flickr


The Solar continuum filter narrows the bandwith sililar to an Ha filter for nightime this give a assive increase in contrast.  Technical details in this page, http://www.telescope-service.com/baader/solar/solar.html

Now where is my web cam?

Chris



Title: Re: It's not going to be sunny for a while!
Post by: JohnP on Jun 14, 2011, 12:41:20
Look forward to some images...
Title: Re: It's not going to be sunny for a while!
Post by: MarkS on Jun 14, 2011, 13:11:20

I knew there had to be a reason for the sudden downpours of rain and the weather forecasters warning us to put the BBQ back into long-term storage.

Sounds really good though!  How long have you had the wedge?  I'm looking forward to some images.  That scope sounds like a bargain.

Mark
Title: Re: It's not going to be sunny for a while!
Post by: Rocket Pooch on Jun 14, 2011, 13:58:22
Hi Mark,

I have had the wedge since the end of the last solar cycle, typical eh!  But its all good now even today there was a nice little set of spots to look at, and to be honest I can't pull the late nights everyone else is :-)

Chris
Title: Re: It's not going to be sunny for a while!
Post by: MarkS on Jun 14, 2011, 14:51:17
Quote from: Rocket Pooch
... to be honest I can't pull the late nights everyone else is

I know what you mean.  At this time of year it means imaging from midnight until 2am.  It's a bit of a killer when you have to get up for work the following day.  At least I can sleep on the train - it used to be impossible to sleep on the bike!

Mark
Title: Re: It's not going to be sunny for a while!
Post by: Carole on Jun 14, 2011, 16:06:36
Quoteit used to be impossible to sleep on the bike!
:lol:
Title: Re: It's not going to be sunny for a while!
Post by: Fay on Jun 14, 2011, 16:29:13
Chris your lawn looks like Hampton Court!!!!!
Title: Re: It's not going to be sunny for a while!
Post by: Rocket Pooch on Jun 14, 2011, 16:41:48
Hi Fay,

It's actually in need of a cut at the moment, but the veg are doing ok :-)

Chris
Title: Re: It's not going to be sunny for a while!
Post by: MarkS on Jun 14, 2011, 17:04:12
It's the hedges that look like Hampton Court!

Where's the maze entrance?
Title: Re: It's not going to be sunny for a while!
Post by: Mac on Jun 14, 2011, 17:17:55
QuoteChris your lawn looks like Hampton Court!!!!!

It is Hampton Court. :cheesy: