February 25 2021 Observations. Solar CCT test and 430nm filter tryout.
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February 25 2021 Observations. Solar CCT test and 430nm filter tryout.
Session time is 10:26am until 11:45am EST local time ( US ). The skies are clear with fair seeing. The temperature is 61F.
Coronado SolarMax II 60 DS. 16x and 21.5x ( Ha )
First off I notice two active region plages. AR12804 and AR12805. AR12804 is the easiest to see and I can see it's spots within. I can also see AR12803 to the east of AR12804 but it appears to be no more than a mere disturbance. AR12803 is just across the central longitudinal meridian heading into the NW quadrant behind AR12804. AR12805 is in the SW quadrant.
I can see a smattering of filaments in the SW quadrant NE, SW and SE of AR12805. Two are easy to see. I see one prominence on the NE limb.
The mottles are easily seen today.
Astro-Tech AT72EDII w/Altair wedge + 430nm and 540nm filters. 24x, 36x and 72x ( WL )
First off I tried out the Edmund 430nm filter. It's only the second time I have used it. Using it I can see the spots of AR12804 with one showing a visible penumbra. I can also see the granulation. The seeing still falls short of taking full advantage of this short wavelength filter. I can also see the spot of AR12805.
The Baader 540nm Continuum filter does much better. I can see the largest spot in AR12804 indeed does have a penumbra surrounding a ragged umbra. The second largest spot is elongated and also has a penumbra. To their east is a northward curving line of pores. I see one dark pore north of a line bettween the two largest spots. I can see most if not all the spots/pores the SDO continuum image shows in AR12804. I see one small spot in AR12805. I glimpse a tiny single pore in AR12803 though the SDO continuum image shows about 6 of the granule-sized objects. The granulation is visible and is easier than in the 430nm filter. I can hint at the faculae to AR12804.
Unfiltered white light does well too but overall I think the 540nm filter gives the best view.
CCT Test. Lightspectrum Pro on iPhone XR.
Today I decided to try an experiment. To take a Correlated Color Temperature of the solar disc. At work ( GE Current ) we use professional Konica Minolta CCT meters to test the color temperature of our LEDs to make sure they are in spec. I have a CCT meter app on my phone called LightSpectrum Pro that can measure color temperature. Unfortunately it is no where near as precise as the pro meters at work and I use it there only as a backup if our meters/testers there go out of use or fail to work. Unlike the professional ones this phone app cannot be calibrated for luminance so if an object is too bright or too dim it skews the results. But since I don't have one of our Minolta meters at home I thought I would try it. Using the phone app directly at the sun through the phone camera I got a range between 5100-5300 Kelvin. Then I tried it through the telescope. I chose the Orion70 because it has a more white image. The ND3 filter in the Altair wedge is a bit warmer and would skew the reading low. Using the Orion70 which was surprisingly difficult. I had trouble holding the phone still while centering the solar image in the app window at the right distance and then trying to do a screen capture. Annoying to say the least, I finally took the eyepiece out of the diagonal and used the light coming off the diagonal. That helped though getting the meter to settle down and give a constant reading was still difficult. I came up with 5679K. I think the solar color temperature is around 5750 from the ground if I remember correctly.
I won't swear by the accuracy of this but it was an attempt. An experiment.
And my adorable little cat who is always nearby when I observe came to sunbathe!
Carpe Diem!
James
Coronado SolarMax II 60 DS. 16x and 21.5x ( Ha )
First off I notice two active region plages. AR12804 and AR12805. AR12804 is the easiest to see and I can see it's spots within. I can also see AR12803 to the east of AR12804 but it appears to be no more than a mere disturbance. AR12803 is just across the central longitudinal meridian heading into the NW quadrant behind AR12804. AR12805 is in the SW quadrant.
I can see a smattering of filaments in the SW quadrant NE, SW and SE of AR12805. Two are easy to see. I see one prominence on the NE limb.
The mottles are easily seen today.
Astro-Tech AT72EDII w/Altair wedge + 430nm and 540nm filters. 24x, 36x and 72x ( WL )
First off I tried out the Edmund 430nm filter. It's only the second time I have used it. Using it I can see the spots of AR12804 with one showing a visible penumbra. I can also see the granulation. The seeing still falls short of taking full advantage of this short wavelength filter. I can also see the spot of AR12805.
The Baader 540nm Continuum filter does much better. I can see the largest spot in AR12804 indeed does have a penumbra surrounding a ragged umbra. The second largest spot is elongated and also has a penumbra. To their east is a northward curving line of pores. I see one dark pore north of a line bettween the two largest spots. I can see most if not all the spots/pores the SDO continuum image shows in AR12804. I see one small spot in AR12805. I glimpse a tiny single pore in AR12803 though the SDO continuum image shows about 6 of the granule-sized objects. The granulation is visible and is easier than in the 430nm filter. I can hint at the faculae to AR12804.
Unfiltered white light does well too but overall I think the 540nm filter gives the best view.
CCT Test. Lightspectrum Pro on iPhone XR.
Today I decided to try an experiment. To take a Correlated Color Temperature of the solar disc. At work ( GE Current ) we use professional Konica Minolta CCT meters to test the color temperature of our LEDs to make sure they are in spec. I have a CCT meter app on my phone called LightSpectrum Pro that can measure color temperature. Unfortunately it is no where near as precise as the pro meters at work and I use it there only as a backup if our meters/testers there go out of use or fail to work. Unlike the professional ones this phone app cannot be calibrated for luminance so if an object is too bright or too dim it skews the results. But since I don't have one of our Minolta meters at home I thought I would try it. Using the phone app directly at the sun through the phone camera I got a range between 5100-5300 Kelvin. Then I tried it through the telescope. I chose the Orion70 because it has a more white image. The ND3 filter in the Altair wedge is a bit warmer and would skew the reading low. Using the Orion70 which was surprisingly difficult. I had trouble holding the phone still while centering the solar image in the app window at the right distance and then trying to do a screen capture. Annoying to say the least, I finally took the eyepiece out of the diagonal and used the light coming off the diagonal. That helped though getting the meter to settle down and give a constant reading was still difficult. I came up with 5679K. I think the solar color temperature is around 5750 from the ground if I remember correctly.
I won't swear by the accuracy of this but it was an attempt. An experiment.
And my adorable little cat who is always nearby when I observe came to sunbathe!
Carpe Diem!
James
Lunt 8x32 SUNoculars
Orion 70mm Solar Telescope
Celestron AstroMaster Alt/Az Mount
Meade Coronado SolarMax II 60 DS
Meade Coronado SolarMax II 90 DS
Meade Coronado AZS Alt/Az Mount
Astro-Tech AT72EDII with Altair solar wedge
Celestron NexStar 102GT with Altair solar wedge
Losmandy AZ8 Alt/Az Mount
Sky-Watcher AZGTI Alt-Az GoTo mount
Cameras: ZWO ASI178MM, PGR Grasshopper, PGR Flea
Lunt, Coronado, TeleVue, Orion and Meade eyepieces
Visual Observer
" Way more fun to see it! "
Orion 70mm Solar Telescope
Celestron AstroMaster Alt/Az Mount
Meade Coronado SolarMax II 60 DS
Meade Coronado SolarMax II 90 DS
Meade Coronado AZS Alt/Az Mount
Astro-Tech AT72EDII with Altair solar wedge
Celestron NexStar 102GT with Altair solar wedge
Losmandy AZ8 Alt/Az Mount
Sky-Watcher AZGTI Alt-Az GoTo mount
Cameras: ZWO ASI178MM, PGR Grasshopper, PGR Flea
Lunt, Coronado, TeleVue, Orion and Meade eyepieces
Visual Observer
" Way more fun to see it! "
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Re: February 25 2021 Observations. Solar CCT test and 430nm filter tryout.
Thanks for the report, James.
Interesting experiment. Result seems to be what you would expect indeed.
PS: your solar buddy seems to be enjoying the warm sunlight quite a bit there
Interesting experiment. Result seems to be what you would expect indeed.
PS: your solar buddy seems to be enjoying the warm sunlight quite a bit there
- DeepSolar64
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Re: February 25 2021 Observations. Solar CCT test and 430nm filter tryout.
I guess the experiment is a success. But it was not easy to do as it should have been.
Lily loves sunbathing. She's a fixture at the scopes!
James
Lunt 8x32 SUNoculars
Orion 70mm Solar Telescope
Celestron AstroMaster Alt/Az Mount
Meade Coronado SolarMax II 60 DS
Meade Coronado SolarMax II 90 DS
Meade Coronado AZS Alt/Az Mount
Astro-Tech AT72EDII with Altair solar wedge
Celestron NexStar 102GT with Altair solar wedge
Losmandy AZ8 Alt/Az Mount
Sky-Watcher AZGTI Alt-Az GoTo mount
Cameras: ZWO ASI178MM, PGR Grasshopper, PGR Flea
Lunt, Coronado, TeleVue, Orion and Meade eyepieces
Visual Observer
" Way more fun to see it! "
Orion 70mm Solar Telescope
Celestron AstroMaster Alt/Az Mount
Meade Coronado SolarMax II 60 DS
Meade Coronado SolarMax II 90 DS
Meade Coronado AZS Alt/Az Mount
Astro-Tech AT72EDII with Altair solar wedge
Celestron NexStar 102GT with Altair solar wedge
Losmandy AZ8 Alt/Az Mount
Sky-Watcher AZGTI Alt-Az GoTo mount
Cameras: ZWO ASI178MM, PGR Grasshopper, PGR Flea
Lunt, Coronado, TeleVue, Orion and Meade eyepieces
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Re: February 25 2021 Observations. Solar CCT test and 430nm filter tryout.
Very good James, and an interesting experiment!
http://brierleyhillsolar.blogspot.co.uk/
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Re: February 25 2021 Observations. Solar CCT test and 430nm filter tryout.
Thanks for your detailed report, James (nice cat!).
Raf
My solar images and reports with articles on solar equipment
My solar images and reports with articles on solar equipment
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Re: February 25 2021 Observations. Solar CCT test and 430nm filter tryout.
Good report and test today James
Lily would be making snow angels here
Brian
Lily would be making snow angels here
Brian
Brian Colville
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
ASI1600MM, ASI432MM, ASI294MM Pro, ASI174MM, ASI462MM
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
ASI1600MM, ASI432MM, ASI294MM Pro, ASI174MM, ASI462MM
- DeepSolar64
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Re: February 25 2021 Observations. Solar CCT test and 430nm filter tryout.
Thanks everyone. That little cat is a constant companion when I am doing solar work. But she is like a dog. Follows me everywhere. Comon Mark T. You have cats don't they tend you at the scopes?
Brian,
Both our cats aren't crazy about snow. Salem, our big black Maine Coon cat really shows up when he is out in it! Lily tolerates it better than he does.
Cats are such adorable creatures.
James
Brian,
Both our cats aren't crazy about snow. Salem, our big black Maine Coon cat really shows up when he is out in it! Lily tolerates it better than he does.
Cats are such adorable creatures.
James
Lunt 8x32 SUNoculars
Orion 70mm Solar Telescope
Celestron AstroMaster Alt/Az Mount
Meade Coronado SolarMax II 60 DS
Meade Coronado SolarMax II 90 DS
Meade Coronado AZS Alt/Az Mount
Astro-Tech AT72EDII with Altair solar wedge
Celestron NexStar 102GT with Altair solar wedge
Losmandy AZ8 Alt/Az Mount
Sky-Watcher AZGTI Alt-Az GoTo mount
Cameras: ZWO ASI178MM, PGR Grasshopper, PGR Flea
Lunt, Coronado, TeleVue, Orion and Meade eyepieces
Visual Observer
" Way more fun to see it! "
Orion 70mm Solar Telescope
Celestron AstroMaster Alt/Az Mount
Meade Coronado SolarMax II 60 DS
Meade Coronado SolarMax II 90 DS
Meade Coronado AZS Alt/Az Mount
Astro-Tech AT72EDII with Altair solar wedge
Celestron NexStar 102GT with Altair solar wedge
Losmandy AZ8 Alt/Az Mount
Sky-Watcher AZGTI Alt-Az GoTo mount
Cameras: ZWO ASI178MM, PGR Grasshopper, PGR Flea
Lunt, Coronado, TeleVue, Orion and Meade eyepieces
Visual Observer
" Way more fun to see it! "
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Re: February 25 2021 Observations. Solar CCT test and 430nm filter tryout.
They sit and watch me James sometimes. Mostly in the daytime sleeping is their main priority.
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!
- DeepSolar64
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Re: February 25 2021 Observations. Solar CCT test and 430nm filter tryout.
Ours do a lot of sleeping too. And eating!marktownley wrote: ↑Fri Feb 26, 2021 6:15 am They sit and watch me James sometimes. Mostly in the daytime sleeping is their main priority.
Lunt 8x32 SUNoculars
Orion 70mm Solar Telescope
Celestron AstroMaster Alt/Az Mount
Meade Coronado SolarMax II 60 DS
Meade Coronado SolarMax II 90 DS
Meade Coronado AZS Alt/Az Mount
Astro-Tech AT72EDII with Altair solar wedge
Celestron NexStar 102GT with Altair solar wedge
Losmandy AZ8 Alt/Az Mount
Sky-Watcher AZGTI Alt-Az GoTo mount
Cameras: ZWO ASI178MM, PGR Grasshopper, PGR Flea
Lunt, Coronado, TeleVue, Orion and Meade eyepieces
Visual Observer
" Way more fun to see it! "
Orion 70mm Solar Telescope
Celestron AstroMaster Alt/Az Mount
Meade Coronado SolarMax II 60 DS
Meade Coronado SolarMax II 90 DS
Meade Coronado AZS Alt/Az Mount
Astro-Tech AT72EDII with Altair solar wedge
Celestron NexStar 102GT with Altair solar wedge
Losmandy AZ8 Alt/Az Mount
Sky-Watcher AZGTI Alt-Az GoTo mount
Cameras: ZWO ASI178MM, PGR Grasshopper, PGR Flea
Lunt, Coronado, TeleVue, Orion and Meade eyepieces
Visual Observer
" Way more fun to see it! "
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Re: February 25 2021 Observations. Solar CCT test and 430nm filter tryout.
Interesting result, James. Close to the accepted temperature of the photosphere.
Thanks for your report. Lily has the right idea.
Stu.
Thanks for your report. Lily has the right idea.
Stu.
H-alpha, WL and Ca II K imaging kit for various image scales.
Fluxgate Magnetometers (1s and 150s Cadence).
Radio meteor detector.
More images at http://www.flickr.com/photos/solarcarbon60/
Fluxgate Magnetometers (1s and 150s Cadence).
Radio meteor detector.
More images at http://www.flickr.com/photos/solarcarbon60/
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Re: February 25 2021 Observations. Solar CCT test and 430nm filter tryout.
Thank you Stuart and Franco.
Smartphones can be useful tools in amateur solar research. I have used mine in imaging prominences, imaging white light and now taking the solar color temperature. All behind a telescope of course. I have also imaged the moon, M31 ( central region ) and Jupiter with it ( I got the 4 moons and two main belts! ) Though I haven’t tried it the video capability of the IPhone is impressive. One could probably stack images from it for much better pictures! The phone has a decent but simple image editor and of course it’s internet capable for research and SolarChat.
Celestron has a line of scopes that uses a smartphone as the goto for the scope! And the phone can be used as a goto controller for many brands of mounts.
And the newer iPhones and Android phones take awesome nighttime wide field astrophotos even without a telescope!
I invite all to pick up a smartphone and innovate. You may be surprised at the outcome!
And then there is it’s use as a music player. You can play your soundtrack to your observing session!!
James
Smartphones can be useful tools in amateur solar research. I have used mine in imaging prominences, imaging white light and now taking the solar color temperature. All behind a telescope of course. I have also imaged the moon, M31 ( central region ) and Jupiter with it ( I got the 4 moons and two main belts! ) Though I haven’t tried it the video capability of the IPhone is impressive. One could probably stack images from it for much better pictures! The phone has a decent but simple image editor and of course it’s internet capable for research and SolarChat.
Celestron has a line of scopes that uses a smartphone as the goto for the scope! And the phone can be used as a goto controller for many brands of mounts.
And the newer iPhones and Android phones take awesome nighttime wide field astrophotos even without a telescope!
I invite all to pick up a smartphone and innovate. You may be surprised at the outcome!
And then there is it’s use as a music player. You can play your soundtrack to your observing session!!
James
Lunt 8x32 SUNoculars
Orion 70mm Solar Telescope
Celestron AstroMaster Alt/Az Mount
Meade Coronado SolarMax II 60 DS
Meade Coronado SolarMax II 90 DS
Meade Coronado AZS Alt/Az Mount
Astro-Tech AT72EDII with Altair solar wedge
Celestron NexStar 102GT with Altair solar wedge
Losmandy AZ8 Alt/Az Mount
Sky-Watcher AZGTI Alt-Az GoTo mount
Cameras: ZWO ASI178MM, PGR Grasshopper, PGR Flea
Lunt, Coronado, TeleVue, Orion and Meade eyepieces
Visual Observer
" Way more fun to see it! "
Orion 70mm Solar Telescope
Celestron AstroMaster Alt/Az Mount
Meade Coronado SolarMax II 60 DS
Meade Coronado SolarMax II 90 DS
Meade Coronado AZS Alt/Az Mount
Astro-Tech AT72EDII with Altair solar wedge
Celestron NexStar 102GT with Altair solar wedge
Losmandy AZ8 Alt/Az Mount
Sky-Watcher AZGTI Alt-Az GoTo mount
Cameras: ZWO ASI178MM, PGR Grasshopper, PGR Flea
Lunt, Coronado, TeleVue, Orion and Meade eyepieces
Visual Observer
" Way more fun to see it! "
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Re: February 25 2021 Observations. Solar CCT test and 430nm filter tryout.
Great report James!
Seeing is everything!
Very best,
Seeing is everything!
Very best,
- DeepSolar64
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Re: February 25 2021 Observations. Solar CCT test and 430nm filter tryout.
Thanks Marty.
I did get me some dense foam from work to make me a 60mm stop down mask for my C102 refractor. It won't cure seeing issues but it will help.
James
I did get me some dense foam from work to make me a 60mm stop down mask for my C102 refractor. It won't cure seeing issues but it will help.
James
Lunt 8x32 SUNoculars
Orion 70mm Solar Telescope
Celestron AstroMaster Alt/Az Mount
Meade Coronado SolarMax II 60 DS
Meade Coronado SolarMax II 90 DS
Meade Coronado AZS Alt/Az Mount
Astro-Tech AT72EDII with Altair solar wedge
Celestron NexStar 102GT with Altair solar wedge
Losmandy AZ8 Alt/Az Mount
Sky-Watcher AZGTI Alt-Az GoTo mount
Cameras: ZWO ASI178MM, PGR Grasshopper, PGR Flea
Lunt, Coronado, TeleVue, Orion and Meade eyepieces
Visual Observer
" Way more fun to see it! "
Orion 70mm Solar Telescope
Celestron AstroMaster Alt/Az Mount
Meade Coronado SolarMax II 60 DS
Meade Coronado SolarMax II 90 DS
Meade Coronado AZS Alt/Az Mount
Astro-Tech AT72EDII with Altair solar wedge
Celestron NexStar 102GT with Altair solar wedge
Losmandy AZ8 Alt/Az Mount
Sky-Watcher AZGTI Alt-Az GoTo mount
Cameras: ZWO ASI178MM, PGR Grasshopper, PGR Flea
Lunt, Coronado, TeleVue, Orion and Meade eyepieces
Visual Observer
" Way more fun to see it! "