New accessories
for observing the sun
Last October I had
managed to obtain a couple of new accessories to aid me in my
H alpha observations. The first one was a 2x Telecentric unit
which when combined with my 77mm ERF gives me a nice f30 instrument,
and good image scale. The telecentric unit is manufacture by Wolfgang
Lille, and is made to screw directly into the back of the Talahashi
FS128.
............... 
In addition to that
I purchased a full aperture ERF for the Tak FS128, and also a
Televue 4x Powermate. This gives me additional resolution, a greater
magnification, and more detail. This combination had been ideal
for some of the high resolution work I have embarked on. Some
of the views have been breath taking.
..........
Since I have had a
passion for H alpha solar observation Del Woods of Daystar has
made me the UK's authorised dealer. So if your interested in doing
similar work, feel free to get in touch.
Further changes
as of June 2003
I have now added additional
equipment for solar observing. As you can see I had sorted things
out quite nicely for my solar work, and was happy with how things
had come together. However at Thetford in 2002 I sold my Daystar
0.7ATM filter to Brian Bond, and ordered a 0.5 ATM to replace
it. It took six months to get here, but it seems to be absolutely
superb.
In addition to that
I have bought a Daystar Calcium K line filter at 5 angstroms for
viewing surface details. This is the first in a line of filters
that Del Woods at Daystar is doing which fit in between the 2
angstrom, and 10 angstrom previously on offer.
This is now permanently
fitted to a 80mm Vixen f11.4 r4efractor coupled with a 2.5x powermate
to give the graeter than f20 required. In addition this is polenty
of aperture, as it requires no ERF. Initial observations look
interesting.
The Vixen refractor
is attached to the FS128 with a set of Chris Heapy guidescope
rings which are also attached via a set of Parallax rings. All
this is now fitted on to the Paramount ME which has now arrived.
With the arrangement as such, I can slide off the refractors using
a Losmandy dovetail arrangement, and then take them away on the
AP900GTO for star parties etc.
The DayStar 5 angstrom
Calcium K line filter, and the Vixen it operates on.
Twin Basler cameras
on twin Daystars. Unfortunately I have only one camera of my own,
but I can occasionally borrow one.. This shows the H alpha on
the FS128, and the Calcium on the Vixen 80mm.
I am also awaiting
delivery of a Meade 6.3 & 3.3 reducer. This way I will hopefully
be able to do full disc H alpha and Calcium images as well.
The only other toys
I would like to add is a Zeiss binoviewer for my visual work,
and replace the 4x powermate with a 4x Lille telecentric to aid
assembly for the full aperture ERF application.
Apart from that all
I am after is a nice Coronagraph. Alas funds are chronic, so I
cannot see this happening for a while. Fingers crossed something
will turn up.
Latest Hi Resolution H alpha Images
Solar
Observations - Latest images and links.
H alpha animation sequences - New
Daystar
Filters
Observations of the Sun in White Light
Observing
our Star - The Sun
Total Solar Eclipse Observations
Astronomy
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