Thank you!!! Excitement!!! First light Lunt130MT

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H-Alpha
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Thank you!!! Excitement!!! First light Lunt130MT

Post by H-Alpha »

Dear all,

I am so excited that is very difficult to transmit to you my feelings!
After six months of research, reading, comparing, questions, advises, decisions regarding filters, efforts to find how to import a Lunt in Greece from USA etc. etc., yesterday I had in my hands my baby!!! Lunt130MT with straight B1800 (+Baader wedge). You all know how it feels...

I want to thank you all those of you who offered advise and answered my questions until I had the feeling that I am going to buy the right solar scope for me!!! Many thanks also to all those who post photos and comments that help everyone like me who wish to enter the solar world and know nothing in the beginning.

I received this wonderful scope, but due to problems in the market, there are no mounts... I have ordered the EQ6-R pro a couple of months ago, but it may not be available until September... Fortunately, the local dealer will help by renting me a HEQ5 for a couple of months. This will arrive in three days.

But you can imagine that I could not wait... Today I wanted to view the H-Alpha sun for the first time in which ever way I could! Lunt130 is not a light scope... With the help of a friend we succeeded to have the first light by just holding the scope by hand on a chair, which was on a table!!!! So far I didn't know what color the sun would be in H-alpha, since you all present a different lighter more yellowish color in the processed photos. This was AMAZING! After tuning, the active area was crispy! We tried a higher magnification and even saw 4-5 prominences by holding the scope with hands!!!

Then I decided to try to make the first capture with ASI290... The image was moving like crazy, but we made it!!!! The photo is very bad because I did not have time to process it correctly, but I wanted so much to SHARE it with you, since it is the first!
Lunt130MT, B1800, 19_38_06.jpg
Lunt130MT, B1800, 19_38_06.jpg (651.24 KiB) Viewed 391 times
So far I had been trying only in WL with the C8 and never reached good enough seeing, so last weekend I went up in the mountains at 2100 m altitude. I thought the seeing would be always perfect there by looking at meteoBlue for weeks, but recording the SSM measurements I realized that it is not always like that... When the best seeing was about to start clouds came... I made only 2-3 captures in-between clouds and below is the best I could have from AR12822. Later when we realized that just at 200 m lower altitude there were no clouds and we rushed over there, the seeing was fantastic (SSM between 0.3 and 1.1), but it was too late to set-up the C8 once more... here is the best capture in-between clouds.
Sun WL_18_50_16_IR_pass_685_nm.jpg
Sun WL_18_50_16_IR_pass_685_nm.jpg (676.63 KiB) Viewed 391 times
THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR YOUR PRECIOUS HELP while I was trying to understand and enter the solar world!!!
Many SPECIAL THANKS TO MARTY for his patience in answering all my questions with so many useful details!!!

A new, H-alpha life is starting for me, and I am sure it will be full of exciting results. When I start to have something beautiful (with an equatorial mount nexts time... ;-) ) and worthy to share, you will hear back from me. :-)
Best wishes,
Alexandros


Alexandros
Lunt 130MT+1800BF, C8 Ultima PEC+AstroSolar, Skywatcher Mount EQ6-R Pro
Baader Solar Prism, ZEISS Abbe Barlow 2x, Celestron Barlow 2x Ultima Series
ZWO ASI290MM, ZWO ASI1600MM Pro,
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Re: Thank you!!! Excitement!!! First light Lunt130MT

Post by MalVeauX »

Congrats!

And WOW for being able to have someone hold this big scope on a chair and table with hands and hand track with a camera or eyepiece. I don't think I would have had the guts to attempt that and fear dropping it! WOWZERS!

Very best,


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Re: Thank you!!! Excitement!!! First light Lunt130MT

Post by Ivan »

Great start and congratulations! I think many are familiar with your feelings. It is unforgettable to take your dream in hand for the first time.


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Re: Thank you!!! Excitement!!! First light Lunt130MT

Post by MAURITS »

Congrats Alexandros with the new equipment and the very nice result.


Regards,
Maurits

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Re: Thank you!!! Excitement!!! First light Lunt130MT

Post by EGRAY_OBSERVATORY »

Alexandros, you have certainly captured not only some excellent shots, but excited the imagination as to holding the scope steady enough for the short exposures necessary from the 130. Just shows what can be done.

Welcome to your 1st light and when eventually you can get one of the best priced-excellent mounts around for the purpose - you will not be dis-heartened as I have the SW EQ6 EQ/AZ Pro mount and it is grand and with three scopes and cameras mounted on it too...

Best Wishes and thanks for sharing

Terry


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Re: Thank you!!! Excitement!!! First light Lunt130MT

Post by Starry Jack »

I have to tell you, every time I get my scope going I STILL have that first light feeling.

So happy to share your enthusiasm with you.

Great purchase and great start.

Jack


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Re: Thank you!!! Excitement!!! First light Lunt130MT

Post by Rusted »

Congratulations on your superb instrument and great, first results. :bow

Now all we need is an explanation of how you managed to carry your "table and chair mounting" 2100m up the mountain? ;)


http://fullerscopes.blogspot.dk/

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Lunt 60MT etalon, Lunt B1200S2 BF, Assorted T-S GPCs or 2x "Shorty" Barlow, ZWO ASI174.
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Re: Thank you!!! Excitement!!! First light Lunt130MT

Post by Carbon60 »

Happy times indeed and more to come when you get set up properly. Looking forward to seeing more results from this instrument.

Stu.


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Re: Thank you!!! Excitement!!! First light Lunt130MT

Post by Montana »

I love to hear that first light feeling :hamster: it gets better and better with every view :)

You were so brave to do that, I would have had a heart attack if you had dropped it. But, I know that you couldn't wait, neither could I.

Super images too :bow :hamster:

Alexandra


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Re: Thank you!!! Excitement!!! First light Lunt130MT

Post by DeepSolar64 »

Alexandros,
It's amazing you got images this good by holding the scope over a chair without a mount! And I complain about using mounts that lack motorized tracking. I can't wait to see what you will do with a real mount!

Congratulations on the new scope!

James


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Re: Thank you!!! Excitement!!! First light Lunt130MT

Post by H-Alpha »

Thank you all for your kind words and comments!

It is so nice and deeply human to share experiences, photos, knowledge, feelings...

Have a nice day and an even better weekend with clear and steady skies,
Alexandros


Alexandros
Lunt 130MT+1800BF, C8 Ultima PEC+AstroSolar, Skywatcher Mount EQ6-R Pro
Baader Solar Prism, ZEISS Abbe Barlow 2x, Celestron Barlow 2x Ultima Series
ZWO ASI290MM, ZWO ASI1600MM Pro,
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Re: Thank you!!! Excitement!!! First light Lunt130MT

Post by eroel »

Alexandros, congratulations on your equipment, time to enjoy the Sun.
Have fun.
Best wishes.
Eric.


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Re: Thank you!!! Excitement!!! First light Lunt130MT

Post by marktownley »

Congrats on the new toy!


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