Help me decide on solar setup
Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2019 3:16 am
Greetings--
I’ve recently set a $5-6,000 annual astro gear budget, and after toying around with a friend of a friend’s Ha scope, I think this year I’d like to dip my toes in the solar bucket.
I’m curious your thoughts on what you’d do if you were starting solar from scratch with that budget with similar goals as mine. I’ll be primarily imaging. I’ll probably only do visual during the occasional outreach I do (local elementary/middle schools---I image solar will make this quite a bit easier!) The seeing where I’m going to be moving to for the next ~5 years later this spring is probably average overall based on my experiences when I was primarily visual last time I lived there. Because of this, I think imaging a full disc should probably take priority over closer-in images...though I do want to be able to do both when the seeing is good. I’m interested in H-a, but also CaK, and white light imaging.
My current gear (not all relevant to this) is a C925, ASI1600MM Pro, ASI224MC, CGX, some random 2x and 3x barlows, an SCT 0.63 reducer, Hyperstar, SHOLRGB 2" filters, filter slider, and an STC focus motor. I don’t really have any intention of using the C925 for solar initially, as from what I’ve read it probably won’t meet my desires...but I am open to suggestions w/ it!
My initial thoughts were a SolarMax III DS 70mm B15 that I can use to image in all three bandwidths (with a CaK module and light wedge), but I can’t seem to find anyone that actually has a SM3 for an honest review and I’m thinking a longer focal length/wider aperture might make more sense to meet my reach goal of getting closer-in/higher-res shots (w/ barlows) when the seeing allows. I’ve also been eyeballing a Lunt LS80THa SS B1800, but it being H-a only, it'd mean getting a second refractor for the CaK/white light eventually and I'm unsure if the aperture/FL is what I want there either. What refractor/etalons/filters/camera(s)/etc would you recommend?
I do not need to get everything this year--so if it's well over budget and some secondary pieces get punted to 2020, that’s ok. My budget is not set in stone either, and I’m somewhat willing to fudge it up past $6,000 a bit for the likely new camera(s) I’ll need to be at the proper image scale and/or mounting hardware. Also, I’m not hell bent on spending all of it. It’s more of a guideline for myself that keeps the wife from asking too many questions. I am willing to buy used, though I am fairly careful about it.
I know we’re at solar minimum, but I am buying this for the long-term and it won’t be solar minimum forever and there’s no better time than “now” to figure out what I’m doing with all this! I’m excited to broaden my challenge past planetary and deep sky imaging.
Thank you for your thoughts.
-Dennis
I’ve recently set a $5-6,000 annual astro gear budget, and after toying around with a friend of a friend’s Ha scope, I think this year I’d like to dip my toes in the solar bucket.
I’m curious your thoughts on what you’d do if you were starting solar from scratch with that budget with similar goals as mine. I’ll be primarily imaging. I’ll probably only do visual during the occasional outreach I do (local elementary/middle schools---I image solar will make this quite a bit easier!) The seeing where I’m going to be moving to for the next ~5 years later this spring is probably average overall based on my experiences when I was primarily visual last time I lived there. Because of this, I think imaging a full disc should probably take priority over closer-in images...though I do want to be able to do both when the seeing is good. I’m interested in H-a, but also CaK, and white light imaging.
My current gear (not all relevant to this) is a C925, ASI1600MM Pro, ASI224MC, CGX, some random 2x and 3x barlows, an SCT 0.63 reducer, Hyperstar, SHOLRGB 2" filters, filter slider, and an STC focus motor. I don’t really have any intention of using the C925 for solar initially, as from what I’ve read it probably won’t meet my desires...but I am open to suggestions w/ it!
My initial thoughts were a SolarMax III DS 70mm B15 that I can use to image in all three bandwidths (with a CaK module and light wedge), but I can’t seem to find anyone that actually has a SM3 for an honest review and I’m thinking a longer focal length/wider aperture might make more sense to meet my reach goal of getting closer-in/higher-res shots (w/ barlows) when the seeing allows. I’ve also been eyeballing a Lunt LS80THa SS B1800, but it being H-a only, it'd mean getting a second refractor for the CaK/white light eventually and I'm unsure if the aperture/FL is what I want there either. What refractor/etalons/filters/camera(s)/etc would you recommend?
I do not need to get everything this year--so if it's well over budget and some secondary pieces get punted to 2020, that’s ok. My budget is not set in stone either, and I’m somewhat willing to fudge it up past $6,000 a bit for the likely new camera(s) I’ll need to be at the proper image scale and/or mounting hardware. Also, I’m not hell bent on spending all of it. It’s more of a guideline for myself that keeps the wife from asking too many questions. I am willing to buy used, though I am fairly careful about it.
I know we’re at solar minimum, but I am buying this for the long-term and it won’t be solar minimum forever and there’s no better time than “now” to figure out what I’m doing with all this! I’m excited to broaden my challenge past planetary and deep sky imaging.
Thank you for your thoughts.
-Dennis