Post by Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe on May 14, 2013 17:41:01 GMT -6
Alley Solar Imaging
14 May 2013
14 May 2013
Temps in the 80's and clear skies...thought I would do some solar imaging... considering the CME that was burped out earlier. I set-up the C11, but the full aperture Orion filter just does not work for imaging. Visually, I was getting some great detail, but trying to take a pic was futile. This full aperture glass filter softens things too much and skewing the hue to the red.
Not good.
So, putting away the C11, I set-up the CG-5 and the trusty Celestron 102mm refractor with the full aperture Baader filter...which proved much more satisfactory. (I'm going to try an off-axis mask with the smaller filter on the C11 and see what happens.)
Sunspot #1745 was quite prominent...
...with #1748 displaying good faculae.
#1746 displayed a good double....
I like this little train of spots by #1744...
Back to #1745...
By late afternoon, the skies are too turbulent and I could not get a sharp image...and by this time...it was hot and uncomfortable...standing next to the set-up and take pics. I find that the best time to image is around 9/10 am, before the heat builds up.