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[-=CROMAN=-]

Robb... I haven't tried putting the funnel on the C8. I'm very happy with the 60mm refractor. The image fills almost the entire funnel with an 18mm EP in place. The day of the transit Im going to use my samsung camera to record the event to my laptop. I did the math for my C8 and came up with the same results as you.

[RobbW]

Well, if I had a full-aperture solar filter, I would just use that and not stop down. As it is, I think I'm just going to have to cut a second hole in my dust cover and leave the Baader film off that hole. I'll have to fabricate a cap I can place over the Baader hole while I'm using the non-Baader hole. Although, I wonder what that image would look like, combining the two holes, one with Baader and the other without?

[atomant]

Joe,
Let me know when you plan to head out to Adler to check out the Sun Gun.

I agree with Joe, if sky conditions allow, a full aperture solar filter provides a brighter higher resolved image thru eyepiece.

Projection is a different animal.
Heat will build inside a catadioptric.
Better to use a refractor or aperture masked down scope.

Good luck with your experiment in combining the two.

[Paulie pchris00]

Robb, an experienced astronomer from the High Desert Astronomical Society in California tells me that he has done solar projection with a 10" SCT masked down. It should be okay. Just use an eyepiece you wouldn't mind losing.

[RobbW]

Thanks for the info, Paulie! If it weren't for the impending thunderstorms tomorrow evening, I'd give the sun funnel I built a test run during the eclipse. As it stands, storm clouds are forecast to roll in well before the eclipse gets under way. Guess I'll just have to try out my new funnel during some other random sunny day over the next week.

[-=CROMAN=-]

I added a solar shield with built in solar finder ( thanks Erik! ) this morning in preparation for the upcoming solar events. The solar finder is nearly spot on...very cool.

[Paulie pchris00]

Nice. I know I need some sort of shield for my Newts, which will be using filters and viewing through the eyepiece. Does this shield make a big difference in contrast with the Sun Funnel?

[erikruud]

May 20, 2012 7:33:36 GMT -6 -=CROMAN=- said:

I added a solar shield with built in solar finder ( thanks Erik! ) this morning in preparation for the upcoming solar events. The solar finder is nearly spot on...very cool.

You are most welcome!

[-=CROMAN=-]

Paulie it did darken things up a a little bit. I began using some 3 ply black plastic domed over the funnel to bring out the contrast more. It works quite well. Im keeping my fingers crossed for today's weather

[-=CROMAN=-]

Erik what time will you be leaving today? I scouted out HK and peck farm last night. The views from peck farm are so much better! Less tree on the horizon and they are much farther away than at HK. Its perfect!

Give me a shout and let me know what your plans are

[erikruud]

If the weather looks like it will hold, I'll probably get to peck by 7:30 at the latest.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

The little wiggle-waggle solar finder is a neat accessory.

I have one that has been regulated to the parts tray.

Perhaps could be of use.

Hmmm...

[-=CROMAN=-]

Erik... Sounds like a plan. I was across the street form where the northwest astronomers setup their scopes. Right by the main building. I'll be there by 6:30 hopefully not in the middle of some massive downpour.

Joe.. I say go for it! Mine has really come in handy today.

[erikruud]

It looks like I may be able to get there sooner.

It's hard to tell if we may get lucky with the weather or not.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

It's sunny in Chicago at 4:25 pm.

Waiting until 6:00 to make the call.

[-=CROMAN=-]

all clouded over out here! I still going though

[erikruud]

I was looking at the satellite map on Wunderground.com. We have stuff west of us, but it may blow through in time. It's hard to tell. I will head out no matter what and hope for the best. I only need minutes to set up or take down.

[Paulie pchris00]

A storm just came through out here. I don't have my hopes up. Any glimpse will be a nice bonus to this weekend.

[-=CROMAN=-]

Yeah Paulie I'm listening to NOAA and heard about the storm over Lowell. We've got another solid 2 hours left. Fingers crossed

[erikruud]

It's raining here now, but the combined satellite/radar map makes it look like we may get a shot.

I will be heading out soon.

[-=CROMAN=-]

I'm on my way now

[RobbW]

The solar finder is pretty cool. I have a solar filter cap I made for my right-angle finder scope out of some leftover Baader film. However, that's a good point about making some sort of mask for the back side of the sun funnel to help block ambient light and increase contrast on the sun funnel.

[-=CROMAN=-]

we had a great afternoon. pictures will be posted soon

[RobbW]

Can't wait to see the pics, Rich. Right now, I'm seething at Mother Nature for jerking me around the way she did today/tonight. I really wanted to get out there with you guys, but every forecast I saw wasn't panning out. When the clouds rolled in thick, the thunder clapped, and the rain started coming down around 6pm, that put the kibosh on any eclipse viewing.

Of course, Mother Nature being a totally hateful and frosty bee...... collector, had to go clear up the skies and make the sun shine just after the eclipse started to get under way. I have been kicking myself all night long since then. Oh well, at least I got to tuck my daughter in for the night and have a cupcake!

I figured, if I was going to miss out on the eclipse due to the weather, the least Mother Nature could do is compensate me with some awesomely extreme weather for the night. I love falling asleep to thunderstorms. NOW... I'm not even going to get that! Every freakin' storm on the weather radar is passing just to the south of me. Drats! What a lousy evening for anything related to nature (for me anyway)!

[erikruud]

It was awesome!

The clouds cleared up except for a few veil like wisps.

we were able to see the eclipse from the moment it started until the sun finally went behind some houses. We probably would have only been able to see it for another 5 to 10 minutes if we had a perfectly flat horizon.

I had the 130mm Ares, 102mm Mak, 76mm Funscope and a pair of 10x50 binoculars. They all gave some great views. I will have to try a higher mag eyepiece in the Funscope next time. The sun was a bit small in that one.

Two other guys from the Fox Valley Astronomers were there as well.

I think we had about 10 people show up to look at the eclipse with us.

[erikruud]

Here is an afocal video through the Ares 5.

[erikruud]

This is a shot from shortly before the houses got in the way.



I shot it by holding a solar filter in front of my camcorder.

You can see where the "horns" of the eclipse were just touching the horizon.

[erikruud]

My video camera does not take good shots in low light, but here are a few I took last night.

The 102mm Mak



The Ares 5


The 76mm Funscope


Rich's Sun Funnel

[Paulie pchris00]

Nice job, guys. Glad you got to see it.

[atomant]

Wow, we are so ready for the transit. Mother nature better do her part.