Post by Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe on Apr 20, 2013 13:29:46 GMT -6
Solar Imaging with the new Dual Speed GSO Focuser
20 April 2013
20 April 2013
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.