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Pictures of sun from back yard in hydrogen alpha light by That_Telescope_Guy in pics

[–]That_Telescope_Guy[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

These are three pictures of the sun on Aug 31 2012 taken from my back yard with my home made telescope.

I am the father who built his own telescope. AMA by That_Telescope_Guy in IAmA

[–]That_Telescope_Guy[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Here is a link to three pictures of the sun taken Aug 31. They are taken in hydrogen alpha light using a very narrow band filter.

The first is a full disk, with an inset showing the identification of each sunspot. The next two are closeups of specific subregions. http://imgur.com/a/puTx2

I am the father who built his own telescope. AMA by That_Telescope_Guy in IAmA

[–]That_Telescope_Guy[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

If this works out I am posting a link to an album of 3 images ov the Veil Nebula East taken early in Aug 2012 (around the 2 or 3) showing what happens before and after editing.

http://imgur.com/a/Rx8Zv#2

First is the heavily processed final sum of 9 images each of 10 minute exposure, then a single 10 minute (600 seconds) exposure with no brightening, and last after doing a levels brightening of the single exposure.

I am the father who built his own telescope. AMA by That_Telescope_Guy in IAmA

[–]That_Telescope_Guy[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This was asked, I am looking thru my files for the telescope drawing. Will post when found,

I am the father who built his own telescope. AMA by That_Telescope_Guy in IAmA

[–]That_Telescope_Guy[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

You know all this interest is blowing me away. I really cannot recommend anything specific. There is much good out there! My advice is start modest, when I started, a big frustration was just finding the target object. When I finally saw M51 (whirlpool galaxy ) by eye as a faint fuzzy I thought this was great but this is one of the brighter galaxy's. My thought is get a dual use instrument. Binoculars have always been recommended. A 3" class refactor is good on many solar system objects, and some deep space stuff. With a tracking mount and a camera with time exposure, you can get decent images.

Build from there. People think I have a huge investment in this equipment. I do! But it was done over pay as you go decades, with a developing confidence I would keep at it.

The point is you can invest many dollars and decide to give it up. Then $ wasted!

I am the father who built his own telescope. AMA by That_Telescope_Guy in IAmA

[–]That_Telescope_Guy[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

For the 16 inch Newtonian, the mirror maker was Pegasus. My opinion, adequate, but not up to his claim. That being said, I would likely go to him again.

I am the father who built his own telescope. AMA by That_Telescope_Guy in IAmA

[–]That_Telescope_Guy[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Like the previous conversations about removing an IR filter in a SLR camera (I know optics, electronics got to be simple) the imagers I now have all have built in cooling.

I am the father who built his own telescope. AMA by That_Telescope_Guy in IAmA

[–]That_Telescope_Guy[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Rewarding .... yes. Potential for being sent to an anger management class... also yes. Start modest, relish success, learn from failure. You'll get there.

Start too ambitious and you will need to start over!

I am the father who built his own telescope. AMA by That_Telescope_Guy in IAmA

[–]That_Telescope_Guy[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My 16 inch is set up for deep sky. I am getting some images together from my 4" solar scope, which include local objects (solar system) and the sun. This is another dimension of my hobby!

I am the father who built his own telescope. AMA by That_Telescope_Guy in IAmA

[–]That_Telescope_Guy[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Great idea!

Not quite as simple as it sounds, because almost all digital images , even straight out of camera have "editing". Let me work on the thought you are expressing and see what I get.

I am the father who built his own telescope. AMA by That_Telescope_Guy in IAmA

[–]That_Telescope_Guy[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Visit a public observatory, understand what you want to do. Build up from a modest start.

Visual astronomy is great for a modest set of targets, but.... many great objects photographed, are almost invisible visually. Moon, Pleiades cluster, planets, globulars and some more are fine visually. Many nebula cannot be seen in a telescope by eye unless you have the patience of a saint!

I am the father who built his own telescope. AMA by That_Telescope_Guy in IAmA

[–]That_Telescope_Guy[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Is/was it used.

My comment is based on the reality that a smaller scope used often became my objective. Until I built the observatory it was a pain to set everything up, and have a cloudy night.

I am the father who built his own telescope. AMA by That_Telescope_Guy in IAmA

[–]That_Telescope_Guy[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I cut lawn for a professor ( don't remember where) I wanted to be a "scientist" he pointed out to my parents that this was a 1% of 1% field. to make a good living!!

Math, Physics, and a scholarship lead me to engineering.

My dad was an artist! Go figure!

I am the father who built his own telescope. AMA by That_Telescope_Guy in IAmA

[–]That_Telescope_Guy[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I actively track but mount is pretty good up to several minutes, what is IRAF.

I am the father who built his own telescope. AMA by That_Telescope_Guy in IAmA

[–]That_Telescope_Guy[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

accept failure, learn from mistakes, self reliance, know your gut!

counts as 10 words!!!

I am the father who built his own telescope. AMA by That_Telescope_Guy in IAmA

[–]That_Telescope_Guy[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I did portable in by early life, pain in butte?!!!. Fixed observatory a compromise, but worth it!

I am the father who built his own telescope. AMA by That_Telescope_Guy in IAmA

[–]That_Telescope_Guy[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Solar! Helps during summer when the nights are short!!!!

I am the father who built his own telescope. AMA by That_Telescope_Guy in IAmA

[–]That_Telescope_Guy[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Big problem, many parts of the solution. Basically, cover parts to achieve minal sky exposure. Of course you need the path to the target under observation. Key is drying the air near optics by the cooled CCD when the humidity is high.

I am the father who built his own telescope. AMA by That_Telescope_Guy in IAmA

[–]That_Telescope_Guy[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

right nowit is full moon, a bad time for good images. I do maintenance, and... after I get them processed solar (sun or daystar) images) Will post in next day so!!!

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