This is the first use of the new GSO 2" Dual Speed focuser that I got in the mail yesterday. With a perfect fit to mate with the tube, I hoped it would make solar imaging easier than with the stock focuser that came with the 102mm Celestron Refractor - Full swap out narrative here:

( astronomer.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=Equipment&action=display&thread=4286 )

And it's so much better.



Hooking up the Canon Powershot S3 I was ready to try this new piece of equipment out. Focusing, I find that I I needed to brig the drawtube almost all the way out, (A known and expected development.) But, the solar image came to focus with just a few millimeters left to spare.

Focusing was smooth and and the delicate matter of finding the "sweet spot" of sharp focus was a breeze. A drastic change from the crude rack and pinion of the stock focuser.

The solar disk was entertaining this day, with several sunspot groupings to enjoy...



Sunspots #1723, #1726 & #1727 are developing nicely, but it was #1726 that was most interesting...



Decent magnetic field lines. Atmospheric conditions were windy this day, and it was just a matter of luck to capture the moment the air becomes still enough to capture some detail.

Some post production highlighting...



It was also very cold a 20th of April day...better more comfortable days ahead...

...but the new focuser is a positive improvement in imaging.