04/16/24 10 spot Sun in CaK

[Thefatkitty]

Afternoon everyone, hope you're good

Starting to warm up here, spring might finally be here. I left for work this morning at 6 driving west, amazing how that rising Sun can blind you in the side mirrors... It was so clear at 9AM. I've been a Solarhead for long enough to know the clear skies and rising temps here will give way to haze later in the day. This is why I leave so early, I hope for a chance when I get in!

And get in I did at a bit before 2PM. My skies were not the greatest, but I set up anyways.

I don't know what it is about this scope and filter; even when my skies are hazy I can get good results. If I tried this with my WL scope it would be a blotchy mess.
I've learned not to question it but to accept it and be happy. Plus the scope and laptop I use fit on a milk crate...

I took 4 sets of 2000 frames; this is the best 20 frames from the best of all that. 10 numbered spots today with another coming around on the left just above the middle of the disc. Big difference from a week ago!

The nesxt three days is forecasted for rain. I hope you all have better luck!

All the best,

[Solsearcher]

Your scope cut through the haze nicely Mark and always seems to deliver .
I like your milk crate but I am more curious to hear more about your new SolarQuest mount .

Does it track well on a hazy day ? I have heard they can be fussy unless sky's are clear .

[Thefatkitty]

Hey Mike, yes this scope always does do well with our afternoon haze here in southern Ontario... Though I really want to get the HA going with the warmer weather; been a lousy winter in many ways!

I used the Solarquest today; instead of the 1-2 minutes in a clear sky it took about 5 to track. I set it up so the Sun is a little to the right of the scope; my homemade Sol finder works perfect for that, just adjust the shadow so it's a bit to the left. Then, once the mount finds the Sun, I use the arrow kews on the mount to get the Sun centered in my filtered viewfinder. I center it in the crosshairs and its aligned dead center in Sharpcap. Great mount for travel/work.

My Ca-K scope is 5lbs and this mount is rated for 11lbs. That's what the HA scope weighs... I'm so tempted to try it! And I powered up my AZ-EQ5 today, hoping maybe the "gremlin" had left... Nope. Controller is blank, but the mount power light is on.

I really hope the forecast for the next bit gets better; as you said, lots going on now!

Have a good night bud,

[Solsearcher]

Thank you Mark , looking forward to hearing if it will handle your Ha scope . I'm sitting on the fence , I like the light weight but am concerned how well it would track for imaging when loaded to max or s bit beyond . It should handle my 60 ok but my 90 would take it well beyond the limit

[StarHugger]

Nice imaging Mark, cool you caught some.

I use two plastic crates tie wrapped together for an imaging desk,

Perfect hieght for the wheelchair and lightweight easy for the wife to move around for me, works great with my mini wheelchair in the garobsy too...

[Bigzmey]

Busy sun, that's great! Can't wait till weekend.

[Thefatkitty]

Thank you Mark , looking forward to hearing if it will handle your Ha scope . I'm sitting on the fence , I like the light weight but am concerned how well it would track for imaging when loaded to max or s bit beyond . It should handle my 60 ok but my 90 would take it well beyond the limit

No worries buddy! I was reading an article about someone who says it handles his Coronado 90 mm Solar Max (18.5 lbs). That's a little much to me... The site is here: https://daveshorizon.blogspot.com/p/pet ... s-ago.html
It's a good article though, it sold me on the mount!

I found it to be a quality build and dead simple to use. It also comes with a 12V adaptor plate you can use to replace the 8 AA battery holder. I got a small Celestron power tank for mine.

One thing I did on mine was move the accessory tray holder an inch and a half up the legs; gives it a wider stance. I also put a 5lb weight on the tray, makes a difference especially with the wind.
Hopefully I'll get some Sun in the next bit to try the HA monster, will let you know how that works for me.

C'mon, you know you want one...

All the best,

[Solsearcher]

Thank you Mark , looking forward to hearing if it will handle your Ha scope . I'm sitting on the fence , I like the light weight but am concerned how well it would track for imaging when loaded to max or s bit beyond . It should handle my 60 ok but my 90 would take it well beyond the limit

No worries buddy! I was reading an article about someone who says it handles his Coronado 90 mm Solar Max (18.5 lbs). That's a little much to me... The site is here: https://daveshorizon.blogspot.com/p/pet ... s-ago.html
It's a good article though, it sold me on the mount!

I found it to be a quality build and dead simple to use. It also comes with a 12V adaptor plate you can use to replace the 8 AA battery holder. I got a small Celestron power tank for mine.

One thing I did on mine was move the accessory tray holder an inch and a half up the legs; gives it a wider stance. I also put a 5lb weight on the tray, makes a difference especially with the wind.
Hopefully I'll get some Sun in the next bit to try the HA monster, will let you know how that works for me.


SQ.jpg



C'mon, you know you want one...

All the best,

Thank you Mark
That article is impressive and he does say it tracked well being very overloaded . His 90 is double stacked and that front mounted 90mm full aperture etalon is a hefty piece and adds a lot of weight to the package . Your scope is much lighter , it will match the max payload for the mount . It is designed to operate at this load so should be fine .
I actually talked to Brian at KW and he could have had one for me in time for the eclipse , I was thinking about using it for my 60 then realized it would loose the tracking target during totality so I re considered . My other concern was what happens when clouds do interrupt the tracking , will it carry on at the rate it was tracking or do they stop and have to be reset when the cloud clears ?
I usually set up my 90 and 60 up together on my Losmandy , this mount is rock solid and handles the weight with ease . If they come out with higher payload version that is lighter to handle than what I am using now I would be very interested , I will have to wait and see .

[messier 111]

realy nice spots my friend , thx .