Lunt 50 - Single Stack / Double Stack Comparison 19th November
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Lunt 50 - Single Stack / Double Stack Comparison 19th November
I've had my Lunt50 for a month or so now, but, at this time of year here in the UK it's never the best for observing with the low sun and less than ideal weather. I had first light proper last weekend, but in my enthusiasm lost all logic and reasoning and as a result never really ended up with an image I was 100% happy with through continually fiddling with the pressure tuner and double stack unit. Since then i'd given it some measured thought as to setting up the scope, and was ready for whenever the sun may reappear.
The weather forecast was not great for the weekend, but around Sunday lunchtime the clouds broke up a bit giving some transient gaps so I decided to setup and see if I could capture anything. Tuning the scope with some features on the disk was really easy compared to last weekends blank sun, and as a result I decided to get some images in single stack and double stack setup. I'm quite pleased with the performance in single stack, it reveals a lot more detail than my SM40 etalon would. SS image was at prime focus with the PGR CH3.
ha-full-disk-SS BW by Mark Townley, on Flickr
ha-full-disk-SS-colour by Mark Townley, on Flickr
Double stack image was taken with a barlow which very nearly fills the frame on the CH3.
ha-full-disk-DS-bw by Mark Townley, on Flickr
ha-full-disk-DS-colour-- by Mark Townley, on Flickr
In previous threads and about the web there has been considerable discussion about the suitability of the LS50 as a scope for imaging in that people cannot reach focus. I struggled with the B600 that came with the scope, but the obvious solution was to use the Coronado BF15, this has much less optical length than the B600 and then reaching focus with a variety of configurations is possible. As an added benefit the BF15 lets through considerably more light than the B600 - I was getting 7ms DS 4ms SS with the B600, with the BF15 it is 1ms SS 3ms DS, quite a difference!
Pretty pleased with this scope, just need the sun higher in the sky!
Mark
The weather forecast was not great for the weekend, but around Sunday lunchtime the clouds broke up a bit giving some transient gaps so I decided to setup and see if I could capture anything. Tuning the scope with some features on the disk was really easy compared to last weekends blank sun, and as a result I decided to get some images in single stack and double stack setup. I'm quite pleased with the performance in single stack, it reveals a lot more detail than my SM40 etalon would. SS image was at prime focus with the PGR CH3.
ha-full-disk-SS BW by Mark Townley, on Flickr
ha-full-disk-SS-colour by Mark Townley, on Flickr
Double stack image was taken with a barlow which very nearly fills the frame on the CH3.
ha-full-disk-DS-bw by Mark Townley, on Flickr
ha-full-disk-DS-colour-- by Mark Townley, on Flickr
In previous threads and about the web there has been considerable discussion about the suitability of the LS50 as a scope for imaging in that people cannot reach focus. I struggled with the B600 that came with the scope, but the obvious solution was to use the Coronado BF15, this has much less optical length than the B600 and then reaching focus with a variety of configurations is possible. As an added benefit the BF15 lets through considerably more light than the B600 - I was getting 7ms DS 4ms SS with the B600, with the BF15 it is 1ms SS 3ms DS, quite a difference!
Pretty pleased with this scope, just need the sun higher in the sky!
Mark
http://brierleyhillsolar.blogspot.co.uk/
Solar images, a collection of all the most up to date live solar data on the web, imaging & processing tutorials - please take a look!
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Re: Lunt 50 - Single Stack / Double Stack Comparison 19th November
And the scope... You can get an idea of sky conditions
23755224_10156794159087067_6159954634514522902_n by Mark Townley, on Flickr
The disks look considerably better viewed in flickr than on here, not sure what is going on, so give them a click!
23755224_10156794159087067_6159954634514522902_n by Mark Townley, on Flickr
The disks look considerably better viewed in flickr than on here, not sure what is going on, so give them a click!
http://brierleyhillsolar.blogspot.co.uk/
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Re: Lunt 50 - Single Stack / Double Stack Comparison 19th November
Some lovely berries for the blackbirds Mark
These are fantastic! your single stack stack is much better than my PST single stack, it gives you nearly a DS view, that is a cracking etalon! Love the pictures and glad you are sorted for your full discs again
Alexandra
These are fantastic! your single stack stack is much better than my PST single stack, it gives you nearly a DS view, that is a cracking etalon! Love the pictures and glad you are sorted for your full discs again
Alexandra
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Re: Lunt 50 - Single Stack / Double Stack Comparison 19th November
Thanks Alexandra. Yes, I was surprised how much detail it was pulling in SS mode. Here's a side by side of the B&W images:
side-by-side by Mark Townley, on Flickr
side-by-side by Mark Townley, on Flickr
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Re: Lunt 50 - Single Stack / Double Stack Comparison 19th November
Nice comparison, Mark. It does appear to be a good SS etalon in its own right, but double stacking just picks out those details that are missed in SS mode as you've shown. Interesting to see the significant difference in exposure speed with the BF15. I'll have to give this a try myself.
Stu.
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Fluxgate Magnetometers (1s and 150s Cadence).
Radio meteor detector.
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Re: Lunt 50 - Single Stack / Double Stack Comparison 19th November
Really nice results
Robert
PS cloudy here!
Robert
PS cloudy here!
images and animations http://tinyurl.com/h5bgoso
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2023 images https://www.flickr.com/photos/69734017@ ... 0304905278
ED80. ED100. Celestron-150mm-PST mod. C8 edge. ES127
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2024 images https://www.flickr.com/photos/69734017@ ... 0313830045
2023 images https://www.flickr.com/photos/69734017@ ... 0304905278
ED80. ED100. Celestron-150mm-PST mod. C8 edge. ES127
LS60PT-LS60F-B1200. B600-Cak. PGR-Ch3-IMX265
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Re: Lunt 50 - Single Stack / Double Stack Comparison 19th November
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Re: Lunt 50 - Single Stack / Double Stack Comparison 19th November
Thanks Mark always good to see the results with the smaller scopes which are what the majority of Solar enthusiasts find affordable.I am thinking of double stacking my 100 but turnaround times at Lunt are long for the DS unit.
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Re: Lunt 50 - Single Stack / Double Stack Comparison 19th November
Cheers Derek. I think this scope used in the context for a full disk overview is a winner, whether that is for visual or imaging. I can see me getting many years of use from it.
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Re: Lunt 50 - Single Stack / Double Stack Comparison 19th November
Hi Mark...
Great captures/processing and very sharp final images as a result
Amazing how well the smaller solar scopes can perform!!!
Brian
Great captures/processing and very sharp final images as a result
Amazing how well the smaller solar scopes can perform!!!
Brian
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Maple Ridge Observatory
Cambray, ON Canada
Photos: https://www.flickr.com/photos/185395281@N08/albums
10'x15 Roll-off Roof Observatory
Takahashi EM400 Mount carrying:
C14 + Lunt 80ED
Deep Sky Work - ASI294MM Pro+EFW 7x36/Canon 60D (Ha mod), ONAG
Planetary Work - SBIG CFW10, ASI462MM
2.2m Diameter Dome
iOptron CEM70G Mount carrying:
Orion EON 130ED, f7 OTA for Day & Night Use
Ha Setup: Lunt LS80PT/LS75FHa/B1200Ha + Home Brew Lunt Double Stack/B1800Ha on the Orion OTA + Daystar Quantum
WL, G-Band & CaK Setup: Lunt Wedge & Lunt B1800CaK, Baader K-Line and Altair 2nm G-Band filter
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Re: Lunt 50 - Single Stack / Double Stack Comparison 19th November
Great images with that 50mm, Mark !
Franco
Franco
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Re: Lunt 50 - Single Stack / Double Stack Comparison 19th November
Very useful comparison, Mark, a remarkable difference between SS and DS.
To reach focus with my Lunt + FT focuser I replaced the eyepiece holder of the B600 with a very short one, and for CCD imaging I directly attach the camera to the diagonal through an ultra short profile T-to-C adapter.
To reach focus with my Lunt + FT focuser I replaced the eyepiece holder of the B600 with a very short one, and for CCD imaging I directly attach the camera to the diagonal through an ultra short profile T-to-C adapter.
Raf
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Re: Lunt 50 - Single Stack / Double Stack Comparison 19th November
Mark:
Nice compare, very useful.
Regards,
Eric.
Nice compare, very useful.
Regards,
Eric.
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Re: Lunt 50 - Single Stack / Double Stack Comparison 19th November
The new scope looks to be doing the job.
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Re: Lunt 50 - Single Stack / Double Stack Comparison 19th November
Thanks everyone, i'm pleased with the results, just wish i'd bought the scope in spring and not winter so could play around with it a bit more
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Re: Lunt 50 - Single Stack / Double Stack Comparison 19th November
Just one more addition - I did the prom ring in single stack, not much to see though.
prom-ring by Mark Townley, on Flickr
prom-ring by Mark Townley, on Flickr
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Re: Lunt 50 - Single Stack / Double Stack Comparison 19th November
Hello marktownley
Sorry, I have a curiosity: the Lunt 50 does have an achromatic lens or a single lens?
Thank you
Sorry, I have a curiosity: the Lunt 50 does have an achromatic lens or a single lens?
Thank you
- marktownley
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Re: Lunt 50 - Single Stack / Double Stack Comparison 19th November
Hmmm, depends where you read it - a few retailers describe it as a singlet, some as a doublet. Lunt itself does not say. I unscrewed the lens cell from the OTA and it is quite deep which suggests to me a doublet.
http://brierleyhillsolar.blogspot.co.uk/
Solar images, a collection of all the most up to date live solar data on the web, imaging & processing tutorials - please take a look!
Re: Lunt 50 - Single Stack / Double Stack Comparison 19th November
Thank you for your answer.
I asked this information why I did not read this anywhere.
My request is motivated by the fact that if it uses an achromatic lens, I do not understand why no one uses the etalon block of this instrument to mount it on a large diameter telescope, just as many did with the block of PST. I thought no one did this because it fitted an objective with a single lens ...
I asked this information why I did not read this anywhere.
My request is motivated by the fact that if it uses an achromatic lens, I do not understand why no one uses the etalon block of this instrument to mount it on a large diameter telescope, just as many did with the block of PST. I thought no one did this because it fitted an objective with a single lens ...
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Re: Lunt 50 - Single Stack / Double Stack Comparison 19th November
Lots of people have- check out the mods sectionantonello wrote: ↑Wed Nov 22, 2017 6:50 am Thank you for your answer.
I asked this information why I did not read this anywhere.
My request is motivated by the fact that if it uses an achromatic lens, I do not understand why no one uses the etalon block of this instrument to mount it on a large diameter telescope, just as many did with the block of PST. I thought no one did this because it fitted an objective with a single lens ...
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Re: Lunt 50 - Single Stack / Double Stack Comparison 19th November
I guess the LUNT60 uses a single lens but I might be wrong
Pedro Re'
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Re: Lunt 50 - Single Stack / Double Stack Comparison 19th November
Nice comparison Mark, DS works for your LUNT50
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Re: Lunt 50 - Single Stack / Double Stack Comparison 19th November
You're right, I have not seen those topics recently, ... but there are only a few people, compared to the dozens and dozens of those who used the PST Etalon part ...
Now I also figured why: I thought that the etalon inside the Lunt 50 was same as Lunt 35 (35 mm in diameter), instead it is a lowercase 20 or 24 mm diameter (as PST)
However, if these people have achieved good results, Lun 50's objective is certainly achromatic and not a single lens.
Of course all this does not take nothing away the good quality of your images ...