Return of the Full Disk - 12th November

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marktownley
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Return of the Full Disk - 12th November

Post by marktownley »

It has been some time coming; the full disks I was getting from my trusty DS40 came to an end last year when a slip de-contacted one of the etalons. I was able to recontact it but I was never completely happy with the results, there was banding and an uneven field of view. I purchased a 50mm double stack etalon around this time as it was a bargain price, and then only very recently got round to buying the Lunt50 scope to go with it - once you double stack you never go back! Totally the wrong time of year with a very low sun and poor weather, not to mention the demise into solar minimum, but it is nice to get the full disk overview in Ha.

Imageha-full-disk-bw by Mark Townley, on Flickr

Imageha-full-disk-colour2 by Mark Townley, on Flickr

Conditions couldn't really have been much worse, a direct northerly wind meant the temperatures at 500mB were very low, meaning much instability in the atmosphere. Throw in the 'Cheshire Gap' effect where the weather blows in straight in between the high ground of North Wales and the Peak District funneling clouds over the West Midlands, and the clear blue skies were just a wolf in sheep clothing. This time of year the low sun has dropped into the trees from my yard, and I only have a some brief windows of branch free viewing in between the foliage, so I was keen to make the most of things.

I'm not used to the pressure tuner system, let alone the double stack, but I was pleased with this result that I got at prime focus (350mm) with the DS50. The camera was the PGR Chameleon 3. Not much to see on the sun at the moment, the filaments appearing to be associated with the long distant relics of active regions of old. Not sure how much use I will get out of the scope this winter, another year passes and the trees on my souther horizon get bigger meaning less viewing time. I will certainly try though if blue skies present themselves.

Mark


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Re: Return of the Full Disk - 12th November

Post by Carbon60 »

Good to see you back with Ha FDs, Mark. It's a pity it's a bit late in the season to get the best out of your new gear, especially with those pesky trees.... roll on spring.

Stu.


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Re: Return of the Full Disk - 12th November

Post by Montana »

Glad you have the double stack full disc set up again :hamster: :bow how about trying the bedroom window? works well for me at 40mm but I wouldn't want to try bigger as the seeing gets bad even with the room cooled to outside temperature :)
Alexandra


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Re: Return of the Full Disk - 12th November

Post by eroel »

Mark:
Welcome to the FD`s sessions.
Nice shots with the DS50.
Best wishes,
Eric.


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Re: Return of the Full Disk - 12th November

Post by marktownley »

Thanks folks! Any images I get now are just going to be quick glimpses until next february... All our house windows face direct east or west, and, none of them open so not really an option. I tried it a few years ago...


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Re: Return of the Full Disk - 12th November

Post by pedro »

Great FD shots. I will be using a LUNT50 soon (belonging to a friend).

My experience with double stack (I have two SM40) is not great

Please keep us posted regarding the LUNT50
Last edited by pedro on Wed Nov 15, 2017 9:24 am, edited 1 time in total.


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Re: Return of the Full Disk - 12th November

Post by ffellah »

A very good disk considering the conditions, Mark ! I am glad to see that you are back in the full disk business....hope you have fun with your new Lunt scope

Franco


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Re: Return of the Full Disk - 12th November

Post by marktownley »

Thanks guys! Hope the 50 you get Pedro is a good one. If you have focus issues when trying to image use a Coronado BF instead of the Lunt, optically it is much shorter and you will be able to reach focus with it.


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