UK/Switzerland Newton mod to a solar gun

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UK/Switzerland Newton mod to a solar gun

Post by swisswalter »

Hi Freaks

on sunday 17th August Mark T and walter modded a 8" Newton to a solarscope. We were lucky to get at least a proof of principal in WL and CaK. We did not have time to collimate the scope. so no pretty pics. Now we wait for the second light

theinstrument.jpg

the mirror in the ferric chloride bath
demirroring_klein.jpg

only solarchat members can do that so fast ;) , the decoated mirror

demirrored_klein.jpg

looking down the tube

downthetube.jpg

looking up the tube

upthetube.jpg

first we saw only reflections
refelctions.jpg

the first WL
WL_8zollnewton_17082014.jpg

the first CaK

CaK_newton_8zoll_firstlight_17082014.jpg


Only stardust in the wind, some fine and some less fine scopes, filters and adapters as well. Switzerland 47 N, 9 E, in the heart of EUROPE :)

from 7 am - 7 pm http://www.nanosys.ch

from 7.01 pm - 6.59 am http://www.wastronomiko.com some times vice versa ;)
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Re: UK/Switzerland Newton mod to a solar gun

Post by Marcello »

Hi Walter,

international cooperation works! It sound well but I didn't understand how you get the image once the mirror is no more a mirror ??


Play in the sunshine, we're gonna get over !!
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Re: UK/Switzerland Newton mod to a solar gun

Post by swisswalter »

Hi Marcello

thank you very much. The rest reflection of pure glass ~4% is enough to get enough light. We did not strip the secondary


Only stardust in the wind, some fine and some less fine scopes, filters and adapters as well. Switzerland 47 N, 9 E, in the heart of EUROPE :)

from 7 am - 7 pm http://www.nanosys.ch

from 7.01 pm - 6.59 am http://www.wastronomiko.com some times vice versa ;)
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Re: UK/Switzerland Newton mod to a solar gun

Post by Carbon60 »

Very interesting, Walter/Mark. :cool:

Looking forward to seeing more. :)

Stu.


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Re: UK/Switzerland Newton mod to a solar gun

Post by swisswalter »

Hi Stuart

thank you very much. We can't wait to see some sunshine


Only stardust in the wind, some fine and some less fine scopes, filters and adapters as well. Switzerland 47 N, 9 E, in the heart of EUROPE :)

from 7 am - 7 pm http://www.nanosys.ch

from 7.01 pm - 6.59 am http://www.wastronomiko.com some times vice versa ;)
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Re: UK/Switzerland Newton mod to a solar gun

Post by marktownley »

This was a very fun day Walter! I'm seriously thinking about getting a 6" f8 reflector and stripping the mirror like we did (I can do it in the lab at work) and using it for Hi-res whitelight and CaK, it's certainly a cheaper option than getting a 6" frac...


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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: UK/Switzerland Newton mod to a solar gun

Post by swisswalter »

Hi Mark

yes that was fun. Next time you visit Switzerland we will strip a 6" SC ;)


Only stardust in the wind, some fine and some less fine scopes, filters and adapters as well. Switzerland 47 N, 9 E, in the heart of EUROPE :)

from 7 am - 7 pm http://www.nanosys.ch

from 7.01 pm - 6.59 am http://www.wastronomiko.com some times vice versa ;)
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Re: UK/Switzerland Newton mod to a solar gun

Post by Derek Klepp »

I bow to the Mod Masters
Cheers


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Re: UK/Switzerland Newton mod to a solar gun

Post by swisswalter »

Hi Derek

thanks for the flowers ;)


Only stardust in the wind, some fine and some less fine scopes, filters and adapters as well. Switzerland 47 N, 9 E, in the heart of EUROPE :)

from 7 am - 7 pm http://www.nanosys.ch

from 7.01 pm - 6.59 am http://www.wastronomiko.com some times vice versa ;)
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Re: UK/Switzerland Newton mod to a solar gun

Post by swisswalter »

marktownley wrote:This was a very fun day Walter! I'm seriously thinking about getting a 6" f8 reflector and stripping the mirror like we did (I can do it in the lab at work) and using it for Hi-res whitelight and CaK, it's certainly a cheaper option than getting a 6" frac...
Hi Mark

a decent offer ;)

15 cm f/8 Newton auf AOK WAM 40 Montierung


Grosses Bild

Zu verkaufen: 15 cm f/8 Newton mit Rotationssystem, stabilem Delit-Tubus, Metall-Hauptspiegelzelle, NGF3-Auszug, guter Optik auf AOK WAM 40 Montierung mit DD1-Steuerung und Gegengewichten auf sehr stabilem Stativ. Ideal für Beobachtungen und für Schnappschüsse von Mond und Planeten. Die Nachführung in Rektaszension läuft, der Deklinationsmotor funktioniert nicht. Ob das Problem an der Steuerung, dem Motor oder der Mechanik liegt weiss ich nicht. Das Achsenkreuz weist aufgrund des mobilen Einsatzes Kratzspuren auf und ist alleine 21 kg schwer (deshalb ist die Montierung nichts für Kinder). Das Fernrohr mit Optik wiegt 11 kg. Komplettset sFr. 300.-






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http://pinboard.astronomie.info/detail.php?siteid=3352


Only stardust in the wind, some fine and some less fine scopes, filters and adapters as well. Switzerland 47 N, 9 E, in the heart of EUROPE :)

from 7 am - 7 pm http://www.nanosys.ch

from 7.01 pm - 6.59 am http://www.wastronomiko.com some times vice versa ;)
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Re: UK/Switzerland Newton mod to a solar gun

Post by marktownley »

That is a good price!


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Re: UK/Switzerland Newton mod to a solar gun

Post by GUS »

Great and interesting Mod Walter and Mark.

GUS.


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Re: UK/Switzerland Newton mod to a solar gun

Post by swisswalter »

Hi GUS


thank you very much


Only stardust in the wind, some fine and some less fine scopes, filters and adapters as well. Switzerland 47 N, 9 E, in the heart of EUROPE :)

from 7 am - 7 pm http://www.nanosys.ch

from 7.01 pm - 6.59 am http://www.wastronomiko.com some times vice versa ;)
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Re: UK/Switzerland Newton mod to a solar gun

Post by astroshot »

There doesn't seem to be a multi-point mirror cell.
Is that simply the design of that particular scope?
Would a multi-point mirror cell reflect additional light in a fragmented manner back up the tube?
I suppose a sheet of flocking paper could be used, although it could be a heat trap.


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Re: UK/Switzerland Newton mod to a solar gun

Post by swisswalter »

Hi Michael

thank you very much. Yes that is just the original design of that scope with three adjusting points on the rim of the mirror. The influence of a black paper on the back of the poliished side has yet to be tested. What we noticed the first time we had the scope pointing at the sun was not a noticable warming at all


Only stardust in the wind, some fine and some less fine scopes, filters and adapters as well. Switzerland 47 N, 9 E, in the heart of EUROPE :)

from 7 am - 7 pm http://www.nanosys.ch

from 7.01 pm - 6.59 am http://www.wastronomiko.com some times vice versa ;)
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Re: UK/Switzerland Newton mod to a solar gun

Post by Cschur »

Walter, nice project. I stripped my 6 inch mirror with undiluted pool acid - HCl. works great, but the fumes will knock you unconscious. ;)

You also have to put a black board behind the mirror to boost the contrast. And dont forget the UV/IR blocker!

See here:

http://schursastrophotography.com/solar ... icle1.html


Chris Schur

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Re: UK/Switzerland Newton mod to a solar gun

Post by swisswalter »

Hi Chris

thank you very much. Very valuable information on your home page


Only stardust in the wind, some fine and some less fine scopes, filters and adapters as well. Switzerland 47 N, 9 E, in the heart of EUROPE :)

from 7 am - 7 pm http://www.nanosys.ch

from 7.01 pm - 6.59 am http://www.wastronomiko.com some times vice versa ;)
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Re: UK/Switzerland Newton mod

Post by thesmiths »

Very cool. I've been out of astronomy action for the summer. This reminds me to get back to work and do more work on my solar Newtonian. Is there any way to make this concept work with H-alpha?


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Re: UK/Switzerland Newton mod to a solar gun

Post by swisswalter »

Hi Douglas

thank you very much. I have not looked into that so far but surely will later in the year. I guess we need first a very strong focuser with full 2" opening for a TZ system


Only stardust in the wind, some fine and some less fine scopes, filters and adapters as well. Switzerland 47 N, 9 E, in the heart of EUROPE :)

from 7 am - 7 pm http://www.nanosys.ch

from 7.01 pm - 6.59 am http://www.wastronomiko.com some times vice versa ;)
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Re: UK/Switzerland Newton mod

Post by marktownley »

thesmiths wrote:Very cool. I've been out of astronomy action for the summer. This reminds me to get back to work and do more work on my solar Newtonian. Is there any way to make this concept work with H-alpha?

This is something i've been given much thought to, but there is no obvious answer.


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Re: UK/Switzerland Newton mod to a solar gun

Post by swisswalter »

Hi Mark and Douglas

my biggest concern is, not enough light, at least for HIRES shots. That is the reason why that mod stands behind the other five I'm working on ;)


Only stardust in the wind, some fine and some less fine scopes, filters and adapters as well. Switzerland 47 N, 9 E, in the heart of EUROPE :)

from 7 am - 7 pm http://www.nanosys.ch

from 7.01 pm - 6.59 am http://www.wastronomiko.com some times vice versa ;)
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Re: UK/Switzerland Newton mod to a solar gun

Post by grimble_cornet »

Very interesting project guys. I have an old 6 inch mirror (from a home made Newtonian ......long, long ago) which I have been thinking of stripping for solar use. Is the ferric chloride solution the same stuff that is used to etch circuit boards (another hobby from the past)?

Mike


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Re: UK/Switzerland Newton mod to a solar gun

Post by marktownley »

grimble_cornet wrote:Very interesting project guys. I have an old 6 inch mirror (from a home made Newtonian ......long, long ago) which I have been thinking of stripping for solar use. Is the ferric chloride solution the same stuff that is used to etch circuit boards (another hobby from the past)?

Mike

Yup, that's the stuff!


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Re: UK/Switzerland Newton mod to a solar gun

Post by grimble_cornet »

Thanks Mark; sounds like a nice project for the winter months :lol:


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Re: UK/Switzerland Newton mod to a solar gun

Post by swisswalter »

Hi Mike

good luck with the stripping


Only stardust in the wind, some fine and some less fine scopes, filters and adapters as well. Switzerland 47 N, 9 E, in the heart of EUROPE :)

from 7 am - 7 pm http://www.nanosys.ch

from 7.01 pm - 6.59 am http://www.wastronomiko.com some times vice versa ;)
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Re: UK/Switzerland Newton mod

Post by thesmiths »

Walter+Mark: I also did not spend a huge amount of time on my 5 inch solar Newtonian. But in theory this approach ought to give extremely good results with CaK. It definitely worked well but of course it's difficult to truly compare unless the comparison is side to side, on the same day, etc.

So solar Newtonian plus Quark would be difficult to make work? If the mirror is large enough there really is still quite a bit of light.

By the way, if the mirror is of fairly large diameter (like 8 inch and above), I think it's actually better to do without the diagonal (secondary) mirror and mount the camera (plus any filters) at the top of the open tube. The central obstruction at 8 inch and above will be equal or less and there is greater flexibility in reaching focus.


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Re: UK/Switzerland Newton mod to a solar gun

Post by swisswalter »

Hi Douglas

yes you are right, working without the secondary leaves us mor freedom reaching focus. I doubt that the heat load for a Quark is too high, at least when we use only a stripped 8" mirror


Only stardust in the wind, some fine and some less fine scopes, filters and adapters as well. Switzerland 47 N, 9 E, in the heart of EUROPE :)

from 7 am - 7 pm http://www.nanosys.ch

from 7.01 pm - 6.59 am http://www.wastronomiko.com some times vice versa ;)
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Re: UK/Switzerland Newton mod to a solar gun

Post by marktownley »

It's whether a stripped mirror would leave a quark enough light; the quarks are designed for 100% throughput hitting them, not the 5% reflection of the stripped mirror. I guess it's all good and well me debating the theory, the proof of the pudding would be to try it...


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Re: UK/Switzerland Newton mod to a solar gun

Post by swisswalter »

Hi Mark

I would like to do the test coming weekend, above all, best weather forecast, but I'm out of town, sorry


Only stardust in the wind, some fine and some less fine scopes, filters and adapters as well. Switzerland 47 N, 9 E, in the heart of EUROPE :)

from 7 am - 7 pm http://www.nanosys.ch

from 7.01 pm - 6.59 am http://www.wastronomiko.com some times vice versa ;)
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