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[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Solar Imaging on the 5" SCT

03 February 2014

A bright sunny day, (a surprise)...was ready for some solar imaging - in my hour and a half window of opportunity when the solar disk is sorta free of my neighbor's buildings and rooftops.  This day, I thought I would use the 5" SCT for solar work.  Now, this SCT does need to be taken apart for a major overhaul for cleaning, flocking and other fun stuff, but it still can be used until then.

Using the 5" SCT on the CG-5 mount and the T5i for imaging...the little SCT does a decent job in gathering light for resolution...but it does need collimation.  With this scope, granulation starts to materialize nicely visually, but since the atmospheric condition, (although clear),  was turbulent....I had very brief moments of true clarity...too fast for the camera to isolate and capture - and it incorporates the moments of bad seeing too.  The C102mm Refractor does a better job at "smoothing" out the poor visibility moments.

Sunspot group AR1967 is still putting on a great show and at center stage now...

In this SCT, things are softer...and hopefully will get better after collimation.


In-camera pre-processing affects add an extra dimension to the sunspot group...




All images are done in total manual mode - and the pre-processed shot in "Vivid" brings out the granulation nicely.

But this scope really needs a good cleaning...




...as you can see all the artifacts and gunk that is on the optical light path.  The Corrector, the Primary & secondary mirrors need a good scrubbing...as well as my collection of 1.25" eyepieces.


Popping on the Adler's H-Alpha scope....I was getting some decent prominences this day...

 

And...my do-it-yourself eclipse...

I wish I had the leisure time to experiment and tweak things during this rare winter's clear day....

But, certainly...more solar sessions soon.

[Paulie pchris00]

Please explain the do it yourself eclipse shot.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Quite elementary Paulie....

I over exposed an H-Alpha shot...then in post-production, added a black circle - blotting out the disk and just large enough to almost kiss the solar limb.

Eclipse...while you wait.

[Paulie pchris00]

Aha. I thought maybe you had made an occulting disk like SOHO or STEREO.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Paulie....

I have thought about that...and willing to experiment when it gets warmer.

But I think mechanically, it won't work.