Beginning solar imaging

[TerryMcK]

I’m thinking of expanding my imaging to include solar. Initially I would use either my 73 or 103 William Optics scopes and thinking of a AstroZap Baader solar filter over the objective. Is there anything else that I could add to my imaging train like an Ha filter or is Ha imaging limited to using a solar wedge or a Quark?

I don’t want to spend the earth on this so happy to limit to white light imaging initially. In white light what features would I likely be able to discern?

[CraigT82]

I'm going through the same motions myself, just getting stiff together to start white light imaging with my fullerscope. I've got a baader ND3.8 full aperture solar film and a solar continuum filter which should be enough to get me going. You're using a frac so you could consider a herschel wedge rather than an aperture filter? Might be a bit easier to use.

Your could try using a Ha filter if the seeing is poor as it could steady the seeing a bit, sort of like using an IR filter on the moon. However you won't see any chromosphere features like proms or spicules, you need an etalon for that. 

As for features you will get nice detail in the umbra and penumbra of spots, plus the surface granulation (convection cells) along with supergranulation features below sort of light coloured cracking across the surface) and possibly even faculae at high mags. Looking through the solar images on astrobin will give you a good idea of what you should be able to see. 

[ApophisAstros]

Posted by: @CraigT82

I'm going through the same motions myself, just getting stiff together to start white light imaging with my fullerscope. I've got a baader ND3.8 full aperture solar film and a solar continuum filter which should be enough to get me going. You're using a frac so you could consider a herschel wedge rather than an aperture filter? Might be a bit easier to use.

Your could try using a Ha filter if the seeing is poor as it could steady the seeing a bit, sort of like using an IR filter on the moon. However you won't see any chromosphere features like proms or spicules, you need an etalon for that. 

As for features you will get nice detail in the umbra and penumbra of spots, plus the surface granulation (convection cells) along with supergranulation features below sort of light coloured cracking across the surface) and possibly even faculae at high mags. Looking through the solar images on astrobin will give you a good idea of what you should be able to see. 

I have £3000+ of Lunt solar gear in a beautiful aluminium case ,  but lack of Sun has rendered it a concrete block!

? ? ? ? 

 Roger

[TerryMcK]

Posted by: @CraigT82

I'm going through the same motions myself, just getting stiff together to start white light imaging with my fullerscope. I've got a baader ND3.8 full aperture solar film and a solar continuum filter which should be enough to get me going. You're using a frac so you could consider a herschel wedge rather than an aperture filter? Might be a bit easier to use.

Your could try using a Ha filter if the seeing is poor as it could steady the seeing a bit, sort of like using an IR filter on the moon. However you won't see any chromosphere features like proms or spicules, you need an etalon for that. 

As for features you will get nice detail in the umbra and penumbra of spots, plus the surface granulation (convection cells) along with supergranulation features below sort of light coloured cracking across the surface) and possibly even faculae at high mags. Looking through the solar images on astrobin will give you a good idea of what you should be able to see. 

Sounds good. I might have a look at that Altair Astro wedge.

[TerryMcK]

Apologies in advance here good people. I've just received an Altair-Astro Herschel wedge in anodised gold. I wish it had been in red to go with my scopes but hey-hoe. It is very well made and comes in its own diddy flight case. I think a lot of Altair stuff comes that way.

So sorry about yet more cloud that has been summoned by an astronomy purchase.