Full Disk Mosaic 706nm TiO

big sun pano lrg, originally uploaded by Mark Townley.

I decided to have a go at putting a 'proper' mosaic together for the first time using IMerge - I've done this in CS4 before, but this is a time consuming process and the results in my mind never warranted effort in.

This was constructed using the 70mm refractor @ f9, 706nm Tio filter and DMK31. 6 panes were taken and joined in IMerge.

I'm really pleased with the results - lovely and sharp! The transparency was variable, and as a result the image is maybe not as sharp as I know it could be across the disk as a whole, but for a first attempt i'm impressed!

This is one to click and view at maximum resolution, plenty to see!

Active Region 1184 @ 706nm TiO

AR1184 127mm f17 706nm, originally uploaded by Mark Townley.

This image was taken with a low altitude sun ~ 10 degrees through so high cloud, and given these conditions i'm really pleased with the results. There's plenty of detail visible in the umbra and penumbra, and the granulation is reasonably prominent too. I'm fairly confident that with a higher altitude sun, good transparency and seeing that the results will be considerably better. Taken with 127mm f17 706nm DMK31.

Active Region 1185

ar1185 127mm f17, originally uploaded by Mark Townley.

Close up here of AR1185 using the 127mm refractor at f17, 706nm TiO filter. Given the low altitude of the sun at the time the results are pleasing!

Nice Prom - 6th April

Ha Nice prom lrg, originally uploaded by Mark Townley.

I've been neglecting my Ha shots of late with my new whitelight filters. Managed to get this nice shot of a prom - looked great in the eyepeice!

I did take somemore avis however seems I knocked the scope out of focus, and so the rest were useless. Doh!

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!

Hazy Skies on Saturday

Todays-Poor-Sky, originally uploaded by Mark Townley.

A quick pic of the hazy skies from saturday. Amazingly the 706nm TiO filter cut through these condition very well!

Saturdays Solar Setup

scope, originally uploaded by Mark Townley.

Thought I would post a picture of the setup i've been using of late for my solar work. On the EQ6 Pro mounted side saddle on Geoptik hardware is my 5" Meade refractor. This has been 'modded' with a Moonlite focuser, extra large dew shield and Harvington Strut. It is used with the Lunt Solar Wedge and variety of filters for whitelite imaging. Mounted next to it is my Ha setup. The is a 70mm f6 frac, and can be seen in the picture to have double stacked Coronado 40mm etalons mounted to it. The Coronado 'Solfinder' finder scope is mounted to it by means of a laser pen bracket. The smaller scope can also be used for whitelight when seeing conditions are poorer or if I want to get full disk whitelight images

In terms of developments of this setup, the plan is to fit an extra set of mounting rings to the Meade frac complete with a Losmandy mounting plate clamp, this will primarily be to mount the CaK PST on here also, however will also allow me to put my Meade ETX90 on there aswell.