My First Light for Solar Imaging

[TheButcher]

Hey all,

Here is my first light for me, my Quark Daystar Chromosphere/174mm/Telvue Sol Searcher and ZEQ25 Mount set up. I usedit with my Stellar Vue SVX80TR refractor with a Badar T2/T2 Diagonal.

The Quark went into the Baader T2/T2 Diagonal with a 2" 1.25" adapter and I had a WO 1.25" nose piece going into the focuser, as I am still waiting on a two inch version end to go into the focuser to be delivered. Now I know it has Newton Rings and I am looking for the best way to get rid of them. Any Suggestions?

For processing, I put both Chromo and proms in Registax and the rest I did with Photoshop playing around. For color I did do the Levels and changing the RGB values in the middle and then put it into the PS Camera Raw filter.

But what a day I started out at 3pm and realized I forgot my Laptop Box for cover so I rigged up some Cardboard I had in my trunk and ducktape then I realized I forgot the Plug for the Quark, but luckily I had a spare USB Plug in my bag. But finally I got the Sun on target around 6pm. I was fighting the mostly cloudy sky and I didn't have a good enough polar align so it drifted a lot. So the first goal was to align my Telvue Sol Searcher which I finally did. But towards the end it became partly cloudy and was able to get my first image, I was able to shoot about (12) 10 seconds @ 10ms of them until the sun fell behind the trees. I took the proms at high gain of 400 and the Chromosphere at 150-200 I think.

Anyway here it is and I would love advice on how to get rid of these rings, if anyone has any cheap alternatives or do I just get the Daystar tilt adapter?

Thanks for looking and I look forward on how to get rid of the Newton Rings.

[Lady Fraktor]

Very nice start

[Solsearcher]

I definitely agree a very good first attempt ! For the dreaded newton rings try leaving the eyepiece thumbscrew for the Quark or camera slightly loose to allow a bit of tilt , quite often this is all that it takes .
You are off to a good start and earlier in the day is better for solar imaging

[The Happy Parrot]

Nice image!

[messier 111]

well done , thx

[Graeme1858]

That's a great first light solar image. Newton rings and all!

Regards

Graeme

[TheButcher]

I definitely agree a very good first attempt ! For the dreaded newton rings try leaving the eyepiece thumbscrew for the Quark or camera slightly loose to allow a bit of tilt , quite often this is all that it takes .
You are off to a good start and earlier in the day is better for solar imaging

Thanks All

And thanks for the tip with leaving it a little loose. I will try that out first which would be great if it works well.

I also saw the ZWO tilt II adjuster for $48 which I don't mind if that helps too and then they have the daystar Eliminator thing for $175 (Ouch).

But I will definitely try your method first but have you or anyone tried the ZWO Tilt II adjuster or Daystar Tilt Eliminator?

[Solsearcher]

I have seen the tilt adapters but haven't needed one a slight tip of the camera in the eyepiece holder will usually get rid of them .

[Thefatkitty]

Wow, I know I'd be pleased with that; nicely done! I wish I could offer some advice, but I'd have to think Solsearcher would know

Again, great pic!

All the best,

[Ylem]

Very nice first image

[FRAZ]

Congratulations on your first light.

- A tilt adapter is a worthwhile purchase but that seems steep price for what it is tbh.
- If you are using firecapture to capture the data then be sure to set yourself up with a flat, a good step for leveling out your variable lighting. ( I use Firecapture, Autostakkert and IMPPG. I can offer advice on any of those and reccommend them.)
- You already know to get your alignment as good as you can, collect as much data as you are able in one setting. DATA IS KING.
- Experiment, experiment, experiment, having restarted I took many weeks to get something i was happy with. Quarks can be fiddly so don't give up you have good equipment and I expect we will see big steps in time.

[Gordon]

I had the same issue with my ASI174MM and the Quark. I got the ZWO tilt adapter and it fixed the problem!

Congrats on the first light.

[TheButcher]

I had the same issue with my ASI174MM and the Quark. I got the ZWO tilt adapter and it fixed the problem!

Congrats on the first light.

Thanks, Gordon and All,

I just ordered the ZWO Tilt Adjuster for $48 the other day and should be arriving hopefully by Midday tomorrow I opted for the 2 day shipping since I will be away this weekend and gonna bring my Solar setup with me.

And today I tried Solsearcher's Tilt method and just got back from a 4-hour session, It worked pretty well I think as I didn't see it in the preview, but won't know until I process them. But WIth the 174mm without tilting it, I definitely saw the rings again on the preview, but not after moving the camera around like Sol searcher said they disappeared. And tomorrow should be mostly sunny hopefully and just hoping UPS comes early enough so I can use it.