Fun in the Sun on Monday 1st March 2021

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Montana
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Fun in the Sun on Monday 1st March 2021

Post by Montana »

Beautiful blue sky again today and a day off work so I dusted off the Solarscope DSF100 from its winter break. I make the same mistake every year at this time of the year, it needs to be hot to work, so I add the D-ERF on the front and spent 30 minutes trying to get on band cursing and swearing, then remembered and took the ERF off and let it warm for 10 minutes and low and behold .. on band. The front ERF is for hot summer days only when clouds pass by and to keep it thermally stable, why can't I remember this :? I go through the same procedure every year without fail, I must be pretty dim.

Anyway, seeing was a little poor, now I see MetroBlue (thanks Mark) says my seeing today was 1.4-1.6. Mmm I reckon it was around 1.5-2.5

The full discs are better viewed in full size here (all taken with a FLIR Grasshopper 3)
https://www.flickr.com/photos/alexandra ... 7/sizes/o/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/alexandra ... 8/sizes/o/

Image2021-03-01 Halpha Solar disc f colour by Alexandra Hart, on Flickr

Image2021-03-01 Halpha Solar disc by Alexandra Hart, on Flickr

AR12804 behind the limb
ImageSun_102501_01_03_2021 by Alexandra Hart, on Flickr

a dolphin or fish jumping in the north
ImageSun_105242_01_03_2021 by Alexandra Hart, on Flickr

ImageSun_105242_01_03_2021_f colour by Alexandra Hart, on Flickr

Un-numbered region in the southern hemisphere
ImageSun_105421_01_03_2021 by Alexandra Hart, on Flickr

ImageSun_105421_01_03_2021 f colour by Alexandra Hart, on Flickr

ImageSun_105742_01_03_2021 by Alexandra Hart, on Flickr

and a fast moving prom in the south west
ImageSun_104748_01_03_2021 by Alexandra Hart, on Flickr

ImageSun_105025_01_03_2021 by Alexandra Hart, on Flickr

ImageSun_105917_01_03_2021 by Alexandra Hart, on Flickr

The only other news is that I am now blocking filterless. On inspection today both blocking filters had little crystals growing on them. Fantastic customer service from Solarscope, a response within 15 minutes and within an hour I had them at the post office and off to the Isle of Man, he will get them tomorrow. Let's see what Helmut says :(

Alexandra


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Re: Fun in the Sun on Monday 1st March 2021

Post by solarnoob »

A very nice series of images, the Solarscope is a winner!

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Re: Fun in the Sun on Monday 1st March 2021

Post by rsfoto »

Hi Alexandra,

Excellent images. Once rode a bike, one remembers how to ride a bike forever, at the beginning a bit curvy but then it straightens up ...


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Re: Fun in the Sun on Monday 1st March 2021

Post by DeepSolar64 »

Beautiful work Alexandra. You are certainly among the best! :bow


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Re: Fun in the Sun on Monday 1st March 2021

Post by JochenM »

Those are some cracking shots, Alexandra. Absolutely superb!

Sorry to hear about the blocking filter. Hope they manage to sort that out for you.


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Re: Fun in the Sun on Monday 1st March 2021

Post by H-Alpha »

Hi Alexandra,

Excellent photos and glad you had a nice sunny day with good results!

I very much liked your "jumping dolphin"! I am a marine biologist and have dedicated the last 27 years of my research (and life actually) in studying and trying to protect whales and dolphins. I was happy there was a dolphin in the night sky (perhaps these were my Greek ancestors who named the constellation like this... ;-) ) ; now I am happy there is a jumping dolphin in the north solar pole as well!!!

The detail you photographed is the potential new sun spot birth (roughly southwest I would say)? I saw no number for it yet, but looks like a tiny sunspot in white light.

And... with how many photos did you compose the full disk image? I love it!

Cheers,
Alexandros
Last edited by H-Alpha on Mon Mar 01, 2021 5:48 pm, edited 1 time in total.


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Re: Fun in the Sun on Monday 1st March 2021

Post by pedro »

Fantastic images Alexandra

The solarscope filters and just great


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Re: Fun in the Sun on Monday 1st March 2021

Post by Montana »

Thanks guys :)

Alexandros, the full disc was composed of a 7 images mosaic. The seeing wasn't good enough for the 13 one at 1.6x

Alexandra


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Re: Fun in the Sun on Monday 1st March 2021

Post by Stardust5858 »

Lovely captures Alexandra, sorry to hear about your blocking filters. Hopefully they'll be back in full working order soon. Thanks for sharing.


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Re: Fun in the Sun on Monday 1st March 2021

Post by ffellah »

Top shots, Alessandra. What a great series ! Love that large inverted prom image... all of them are very good.

I was laughing when you said that you were swearing at the scope: I can't imagine you swearing at anybody or anything.

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Re: Fun in the Sun on Monday 1st March 2021

Post by marktownley »

Very impressive images Alexandra! I always have to remember how everything works in the situation too. Good to hear the blocker is back at the menders, let us know how it gets on.


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Re: Fun in the Sun on Monday 1st March 2021

Post by Carbon60 »

Superb images, Alexandra....only to be expected from you.
Pity about the BFs, but I’m sure Helmut will sort you out.
As for forgetting to let the etalon warm up, maybe stick a post-it note on it at the end of the season as a reminder for next time. :)

I presume you’re still using the plastic bag method for flats.

Stu.


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Re: Fun in the Sun on Monday 1st March 2021

Post by solardave »

nice Images Alexandra


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Re: Fun in the Sun on Monday 1st March 2021

Post by Astrophil »

Simply wonderful images, Alexandra! What a way to start the season.

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Re: Fun in the Sun on Monday 1st March 2021

Post by EGRAY_OBSERVATORY »

Hi Alexandra,
You have captured some excellent images today and glad that you at least had some clear-skies, compared to the S.E. - which didn't...
Proms are well-shown too.

Hope your repaired BF returns soon.

There is a single faintish spot nearing the South-Central region, which perhaps you might capture in due course - if it and your weather last..

Thanks for sharing
Regards
Terry


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Re: Fun in the Sun on Monday 1st March 2021

Post by Montana »

Thanks everyone for all the kind comments :)

Stuart, yes, still using the supermarket fruit bag for flats, although I haven't seen one for year now so what happens when this one breaks or blows away in the wind! it is vital solar equipment :lol:

Let down by Royal Mail already. I paid the top whack for postage Special delivery guaranteed next day by 1pm. So where is it? still in transit at Warrington, it better not be because I could have rowed there quicker. But since Helmut hasn't emailed to say he has them I bet they are. Useless RM!

Alexandra


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Re: Fun in the Sun on Monday 1st March 2021

Post by MapleRidge »

These are fabulous image Alexandra...well done :bow

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Re: Fun in the Sun on Monday 1st March 2021

Post by MAURITS »

Great and clean images Alexandra :D


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Re: Fun in the Sun on Monday 1st March 2021

Post by krakatoa1883 »

Beautiful set of images, Alexandra, discs are superb!


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Re: Fun in the Sun on Monday 1st March 2021

Post by LTHB »

Wonderful big disk and close-ups! And with just the right measure of sharpening (for my taste at least).


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Re: Fun in the Sun on Monday 1st March 2021

Post by marktownley »

Montana wrote: Tue Mar 02, 2021 2:35 pm Let down by Royal Mail already. I paid the top whack for postage Special delivery guaranteed next day by 1pm. So where is it? still in transit at Warrington, it better not be because I could have rowed there quicker. But since Helmut hasn't emailed to say he has them I bet they are. Useless RM!
I've had this before. IoM is classed as 'islands and highlands' so regardless of what service you paid for it will get there when Royal Fail decides :(


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