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[katodog]

Here is my very feeble attempt at today's sunspots. I didn't feel like sitting out all day under the sun, so I snapped off a quick video and stacked it with registax.



I don't know why, I thought I had it figured out, but for some reason the scope doesn't want to track. It worked before, so I'm sure it's just me, but I hope I figure it out before I get mad and smash the thing.

I'm not that stupid, so I don't know why I'm having all of these little annoying problems

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Kdog,

It's an interesting and esoteric image of the sun. I have never seen an image like that. Was it your intention to keep slightly out of focus? Cool regardless...but dig those huge Sunspots! I have found using the projection method the best for solar capture.

For solar images, you shouldn't have to track at all. But don't get too down, unless there is something drastically wrong with the mount, you will get it working nicely. Have you contacted the Meade people yet for advice?

[katodog]

The sun shot was out of focus because it was blinding bright out and I didn't think ahead of time to make a sun shield. I wish I had because I could have used the cardboard box that the scope was shipped in. Too bad I'm smart only after the fact or I wouldn't have cut it up and tossed it. I tried to focus as best I could, but the brightness of the sun, and still being ticked about the tracking problem, I didn't spend a whole lot of time goofing around with everything.

I had the scope out by my cousin, figuring two heads were better than one (or at least his was better than mine), and found out that the gears were super loose and slipping on the right ascension motor. Fixed that. Being as how it was cloudy, I had to test the tracking by aiming at a land object and checking to see which direction I would have to go to take to get the image back to center. I figured if anything slipped, I would have to go up or down, and not just left, to center the object. Everything worked perfect. I only had to hit the left button to center the image, so the tracking was dead on.

Tonight will be the true test with Jupiter, and hopefully I'll get some decent pictures.

If the scope doesn't work after tonight, I'm gonna give it to charity.

Hey Joe, know anyone looking for a refractor?

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Kdog,

Loose gears eh?

Great that you isolated the problem, and let's hope not that tracking is on the nose and accurate. Let's see somke more pics...

The Chicago Astronomer will accept all forms, types and genre of astronomical equipment including - but not limited to: barlows, eyepieces, filters, reflectors, tripods, star charts, Maks, mounts, slo-mo controls, collimation tools, planispheres, red lights, refractors, green lasers, mirrors, focusers, Binoculars, Dobs, finder scopes, astrolabes, ccds, H-Alpha scopes, software, SCT's...et al, and utilize them all in the advancement of amateur astronomy... ;D

[katodog]

Looks like the problem has been fixed (fingers crossed). We had the scope out last night and it stayed steady as a rock. As soon as I sort the pics out, I will put some up of Jupiter and M13. The M13 shots didn't come out too bad, considering you can't see diddly on the viewfinder on the camera

[katodog]

Of course, Joe, you know that now that the scope is fixed (fingers crossed again) I'll have to raise the rates for using it.

But don't worry, you get the family discount. $15 per view, $25 for pictures. I'll still provide my autograph before the session, and as usual, anyone bringing booze gets free views