Sunday 3 April 2011

AR1183 @ 706nm


AR1183 127mm f17, originally uploaded by Mark Townley.

Really happy with this image. If you look at the image of the sky below this post you will see what I was up against - very poor transparency with seeing conditions not much better! This was my first opportunity to try out the 706nm TiO filter with my 5" frac. Despite having to crank up the gain and exposure on the DMK31 to compensate for conditions I was really surprised with the results.

Looking closely at the image there is lots of detail visible in the umbra and penumbra of the spots, and the mottling of granulation. I'm really optimistic that with a properly clear sky i'll be able to get even better results still.

This image is testimony that this filter which works at longer wavelengths is better than the Baader Solar Continuum filter when seeing conditions are poor. On (rare) days when seeing is good the Baader Continuum as operates at a shorter wavelength should deliver a slightly higher resolution image. Until those rare days of good seeing actually materialise here in the West Midlands i'm going to stick with the 706nm TiO as far as i'm concerned this delivers the goods!