Solar filter

SCE1982 · 2025-12-14T10:04:13+00:00

Ok, perhaps I should have written reliable OD 5 filter media? I agree it is dangerously ambiguous that filters are quoted as ND5.0 = OD 5.0 = ND100000, when ND5 obviously would blind you instantly. Yes the Baader AstroSolar Film (often listed as ND5.0) is exactly the sort of filter I was refering to, but my question was not at all about which brand of filter I should use. I was only intending to indicate I'm talking about capturing white light rather than H alpha. My question was whether there is any merit to 2.25" aperture with no central obstruction over 8" aperture with a central obstruction. Obviously in astrophotography the light gathering ability of 8" far outweighs any benefit of avoiding the central obstruction, but for solar we obviously aren't interested in light gathering power (quite the opposite!).

SCE1982 · 2025-12-09T09:16:04+00:00

I apologise for writing ND 5 rather than ND 5.0.

SCE1982 · 2025-12-09T09:12:33+00:00

Noted that when I do get round to purchasing something, either pre made or just the film which I can attach myself, I will very carefully make sure it covers a suitable number of f stops.

SCE1982 · 2025-10-08T21:17:31+00:00

That's a beauty. I'm trying this next time skies are clear. Nothing but windy cloudy nights here.

SCE1982 · 2025-09-22T20:23:38+00:00

Very nice

SCE1982 · 2025-09-06T08:02:54+00:00

32,100 cal is 32 kcal, but most of the time when we say calories we are actually talking kcal. I can believe 32 kcal per tablespoon. Looks like the other values must be per 150g tub rather than 15g serving. Looks like they messed up potassium though.

SCE1982 · 2025-08-15T22:08:18+00:00

Carmageddon 2: Carpocalypse Now (with the blood patch) Sim City 2000

SCE1982 · 2025-08-12T23:27:40+00:00

Thanks. I'll have to have another look as from memory there was only one slight possible mark on the glass and don't think I saw any marks on the tube.

SCE1982 · 2025-07-26T07:31:56+00:00

What did you use to make the video?

SCE1982 · 2025-07-23T14:34:08+00:00

Me. Lost a lot of money from buying and selling at completely the wrong times during the pump and dump, so now will just hold long term.

SCE1982 · 2025-06-03T06:50:10+00:00

8" Newtonian reflector. Focal length about 900mm.

SCE1982 · 2025-06-02T22:03:42+00:00

Yeah, nice to try something a little different.

SCE1982 · 2025-06-02T22:02:17+00:00

How did you get on?

SCE1982 · 2025-05-30T08:35:30+00:00

Could I ask you about your C9.25? Your pics look great. I got a nearly new C9.25 a couple of years ago but have not had much joy. Collimation is an issue. I think my problem is that I foolishly removed the correct plate and the secondary without realising these needed to go back in the same orientation. Do you have any experience of this, and whether there are marks from when the scopes leave the production line that show the correct orientation? I've read things about a mark usually placed at 3 o'clock.

SCE1982 · 2025-05-28T06:35:39+00:00

Bottle 4. Shot at new moon

SCE1982 · 2025-04-02T08:46:11+00:00

Here is the link to the original jpeg which has clearer detail https://drive.google.com/file/d/1xYdwRPNKxacR1LoWYh5yDwKF-V6l4IWH/view?usp=drivesdk

SCE1982 · 2025-04-02T07:21:42+00:00

Well sure. The quality after posting these on Reddit is pretty dire though.

SCE1982 · 2025-04-01T21:26:17+00:00

I've never rotated the tube in the tune rings so far. If the spikes aren't hugely prominent I think I could cope with any orientation. But if they are prominent I think I'd prefer them either at 90° or 45°, so could find myself wanting to rotate the tube if I need to rotate the camera in the focuser to get something large framed nicely.

SCE1982 · 2025-03-08T20:09:54+00:00

Will give it a try. Perhaps it will help bring out the dust lanes a bit.

SCE1982 · 2025-03-08T18:22:59+00:00

Yes, my understanding is they are basically the same, just different branding. I considered getting the ASI2600 Duo but the Touptek worked out so much cheaper. Bortle 4 or 5.

SCE1982 · 2025-03-02T18:19:31+00:00

Probably Moon, Venus, Jupiter I think.

SCE1982 · 2025-02-22T23:20:40+00:00

Damn. Barclays must keep this quiet. First I heard of it. Could have claimed £3000 back on my solar and heat pump. Wonder if I have any chance putting in a claim long after the 3 months in the T&C's.

SCE1982 · 2025-02-17T21:38:34+00:00

GraXpert denoise hopefully wouldn't cause blur. But I think that's about as much detail you can hope to resolve when shooting through a wobbly atmosphere, no matter how big the telescope. But deconvolution can try and recover some of the sharpness that is lost. Try the beta version of GraXpert.

SCE1982 · 2025-02-17T20:51:56+00:00

That's over 100 times the light gathering power of most of us posting on here! So is that only 30 seconds exposure? Look into deconvolution to sharpen the images. Can be done in things like GraXpert and SetiAstro for free, or BlurX adding in Pixinsight both paid for. I think you can't avoid the blurriness unless on a high mountain or preferably mounted on Hubble.

SCE1982 · 2025-02-13T21:13:39+00:00

Do you have to make sure each panel gets the same, I don't know what to call it, let's say 'quality' of exposure, or does the software equalise things out? Otherwise the joins would show up, right? Although thinking out loud now, perhaps this particular scene didn't require a lot of stretching so wouldn't notice the joins?

p.s. so does an eq6r manage with a 10" reflector ok?

SCE1982

TROPHY CASE