Tillibobs August Solar thread

[Ben Cartwright SASS]

I was using a 1.25 diagonal with a quark and cooled camera, but the tilter handled it

[FRAZ]

One from the 26th, I can only get a nasty coverage very low down at the corner of the observatory at the treeline midweek but just glad to get something tbh.

[FRAZ]

[FRAZ]

[FRAZ]

[FRAZ]

Well that was Friday, nothing spectacular for a main post on its own but I don't mind posting my seconds here

[Lowjiber]

I couldn't resist. LOL

That Ghost Prom was so cool that I had to take a closer look...

In my opinion, that's one of the few cases where adding color really enhances the shot.

Nice capture my friend. (Great lift-off)

Clear Skies

[FRAZ]

Excellent work John.

[FRAZ]

viewtopic.php?f=73&t=19491

[Cliff]

Not sure if this is the right place but have recently acquired a Combo Quark and the couple times i've used it first with a ES2X extender and today despite high clouds ,first time with a 4X powermate. Finally got the right combination to reach focus.
Mostly visual at the moment but did get an image the first time out.

My setup is a Tak 76DS , a 35mm and 73mm extender , the 4X powermate or ES2X, Combo Quark then a tak prism diagonal and a meade super plosil 26, 32 or 40mm.

Weather's been lousy here in Sydney.

My question is what is the best filter to reduce the intensity of the Sun as seen through the Quark would a ND or Polarising filter on the eyepiece do the trick? I can see the proms quite well but the surface seems too intense.

thanks
Cliff

First image with Combo Quark and ES2X 20Aug2021

[Lowjiber]

Cliff, I've been sorta following your efforts with the new rig, and need to ask: Are you shooting a single image or two?

Looking at the image above, it appears that the proms and surface were both shot as a single image. That's why your surface is so over exposed.

Basically, we shoot the prom(s) and the surface at two completely different camera and Quark settings. We then process each separately and "stitch" the two together as a single image.

Since this August thread is about to expire, I hope FRAZ will get another September thread going and we can discuss it more there.

[FRAZ]

I got you on September mate, just hit it op today.

[Ben Cartwright SASS]

Final post of the month at least for me on the thread.

I shoot solar to please myself but I still look for feedback. I posted some images to CN and some of the feedback I received as that we should be striving to mimic what you see in the EP rather than images that are crisp but not over sharpened (although it is easy to over sharpen by mistake) and also just as important to show the entire chromosphere on the limb even if it is blown out.

I like to show just a hint of the double limb, chromosphere, to highlight the spicules and proms. Also what I like is sharper than through the EP, sort of like seeing it from space. After all in DSO photography we don't try to mimic an EP view where we would only show a fuzzy white object and we try to get the best and sharpest we can without overdoing it. When I do images of craters on the moon I go for sharp not EP.

I will often show 3 of the same image to people, 1st EP view (soft focus as it were) and then what I like and then one that is over sharpened and every person I ask except on some of the forums choose the middle one. My wife always says why is it fuzzy?

Another thing, when I show people images with the spicules just resting or just barely above the limb they prefer the images to the one showing even a small ring of the chromosphere double limb, just my observations.

In bird photography especially birds in flight you want TACK SHARP images especially the eye, it should give you a paper cut and if the bird is too far away to get that kind of sharpness due to the atmosphere you don't take the shot (check out the birds at www.jeffpadell.com )

There is a fine line between sharp and oversharp and I can find it hard to hit. Often the proms look best slightly soft other times sharper. The bottom line is I am really shooting for myself, just like with nature.

Anyhow here is an example of EP view vs what we get with a camera (just because) and then a couple solar, the one virtually all non-forum members like and then that I like although even a little less double limb might be better

Finally I have never really gotten a solar image I am totally happy with

[FRAZ]

Thanks everyone for making August a huge success.

I managed to get told off twice at the end of August, I promise to try and behave better in September but with Keith as a mentor I might find it difficult

[Tillibobs]

Thanks everyone for making August a huge success.

I managed to get told off twice at the end of August, I promise to try and behave better in September but with Keith as a mentor I might find it difficult

Fraz, if you got told off you must be leading the group in the right direction !!!!

[Lowjiber]

... I managed to get told off twice at the end of August, I promise to try and behave better in September but with Keith as a mentor I might find it difficult

That's not a record, but a heck of an average. LOL As Pinocchio said to Geppetto, Keep up the wood work.

Clear Skies

[Gordon]

Hey we gotta do something to keep you guys under control!!!

[Cliff]

Cliff, I've been sorta following your efforts with the new rig, and need to ask: Are you shooting a single image or two?

Looking at the image above, it appears that the proms and surface were both shot as a single image. That's why your surface is so over exposed.

Basically, we shoot the prom(s) and the surface at two completely different camera and Quark settings. We then process each separately and "stitch" the two together as a single image.

Since this August thread is about to expire, I hope FRAZ will get another September thread going and we can discuss it more there.

Yes just the one exposure time, will try with two different but my photoshop type skills are limited.

[Cliff]

Should be in September but here are my latest Solar snaps 1st September 2021

Combo Quark 4X Powermate and Tak 76DS.

Getting the hang of the Quark , my USB battery pack kept switching off so now have a better solution.

White Light 6"SCT Baader Film.

Uncoloured and barely processed.

[FRAZ]

Oh wow! They are pretty special Cliff!

There is a post for September too and we often overlap our posts and stick them in both so more people see them.

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