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[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Solar Imaging with the 90mm Refractor

It's been such a wonderful winter here in Chicago with no snow and today...in the upper 40s!

I thought I would take advantage of the warm shirtsleeve temps and set-up the uber portable 90mm Refractor scope on my front porch which faces south. I do have a large amount of tree on the property, so I had to wait till after Noon to start any imaging.

I used two cameras this session. The usual Canon Powershot S3 and a Samsung 14mp pocket camera that has found it's way into the Chicago Astronomer arsenal. (The ones with the date are of the Samsung)...

I used the Seymour film objective filter and a 40mm 1.25" eyepiece for these shots.

Focusing is always tough doing solar. Glare, ambient lighting and trying to get the granulation or sunspots in focus take a lot of trial and mostly error...

Although the Sun is rather quiet now, there are a lot of Sunspots scattered about.

Laika had enough of the solar imaging and I wrapped it up befor the Sun sank behind my neighbors rooflines...

I will keep the 90mm in the entrance hall, for quick set-up and follow the Sun on it's way back up north...taking frequent pics.

[Paulie pchris00]

Just a random thought here, but I like having the date and time in a photograph, especially astronomy. There was a girl who came out to Conway for Perseid shower who does a lot of photography, and she thought I was crazy for having date and time displayed in my images, and that it is enough to have that information embedded in the file. I disagree. Yes, that information can usually be manipulated, but having it displayed in the image, especially when sharing in forums such as this, makes it easier for others to verify and compare images from around the same time. It greatly improves documentation. Maybe it's not so important in deep sky images (unless you happen to get lucky and catch an undiscovered asteroid, comet, supernova, etc.), but for real time dynamic solar system objects, I think capture time data is valuable information.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

You make a good point Paulie.

I have always felt the time/date stamp amateur-ish and intrusive. And as mentioned, the EXIF has all the info.

But, I can see it's place and value.

Not too sure if I will keep it in future captures, but I like the option.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

I have been using PhotoImpact for over a decade in my imaging post production jobs for the CA, but using Photoshop's steep learning curve, it provides some interesting filter effects on this solar session...

This one looks like an ovum...

But I like that in all, the sunspots are nicely pronounced...

...with some artifact off the eastern limb.

[scottmason]

I love how much contrast you can bring out with those filter effects, Joe!
I need to get into solar photography!
I have to admit I'm nervous about damaging my eyes and/or camera though.