Camera Labs

The bright thing in the sky appeared again. So I shot it.


Baader CaK + ND5 filters, DMK41, Canon 100-400L


Sun 20120721 Ha by Crestie Crazy, on Flickr
DMK41, Celestron X-Cel 2x barlow element, Coronado PST

Trying avistack for first time today so both stacked by it. Wavelets applied in Registax 5.1, finish in PSE9. Both files were just over a minute for over 1000 frames each. I have no idea what I'm doing in avistack but have now found the full auto mode. That'll do for now! This is now my best ever detail level in H-alpha.

Still got a LOT more data to go through! Will concentrate on the Ha data, due to field of view limits with the barlow, I have to do the sun in two halves. So I've got two sets for prominences and another one for surface to go, then the nightmare of blending it that I never got working well... The CaK data still isn't sharp... in part this might be reaching the limits of the 100-400L and I need to get a bigger scope on the job, once I've ordered the appropriate mounting bits.

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Canon DSLRs: 7D, 5D2, 1D, 600D, 450D full spectrum, 300D IR mod
Lenses: EF 35/2, 50/1.8, 85/1.8, 135/2+SF, 28-80 V, 70-300L, 100-400L, TS-E 24/3.5L, MP-E 65, EF-S 15-85 IS
3rd party: Zeiss 2/50 makro, Samyang 8mm fisheye, Sigma 150 macro, 120-300 f/2.8 OS, Celestron 1325/13
Tinies: Sony HX9V.

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Nice work!

And we are owed a better summer next year one hopes, 2013 being the expected solar maximum.

Bob.

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OM-D E-M5 + ED 12-50mm, H-PS14042E, H-F007014E, L-RS014150E, M.ZUIKO DIGITAL 45mm 1:1.8.
Gitzo GT1541T, Arca-Swiss Z1 DP ball-head.
Astrophotography: TEC 140 'scope, FLI ML16803 camera, ASA DDM60 Pro mount.

I had to give up on combining yesterday's two halves as I can't get around a gradient mismatch. That reminds me, I was wondering if flats might help here...

Today I worked around it a little differently and got some fresh data. Hop over to here to see it as I've left it 100% which is too big for my usual hosts to cope with. If you're critical there's still a slight mismatch that can be detected, but close enough for now. I just tried to minimise the amount of shift between the two frames.

Still not got the hang of adding in separate prominence exposures though. The increased exposure bloats the suns apparent size so the blend doesn't look right.

Debating if I should re-build the filter section of the scope, or take the easier option and just saw a bit off the eyepiece holder... that'll resolve my focus issues and I can grab the sun in one go then.

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Canon DSLRs: 7D, 5D2, 1D, 600D, 450D full spectrum, 300D IR mod
Lenses: EF 35/2, 50/1.8, 85/1.8, 135/2+SF, 28-80 V, 70-300L, 100-400L, TS-E 24/3.5L, MP-E 65, EF-S 15-85 IS
3rd party: Zeiss 2/50 makro, Samyang 8mm fisheye, Sigma 150 macro, 120-300 f/2.8 OS, Celestron 1325/13
Tinies: Sony HX9V.