Sol'Ex update with 61 sessions and 962 video shoots

 

My Sol'Ex journey started back in August '23 and today I'm looking back ... a steep learning curve, 3 Sol'Ex versions, 2nd Gen Slit, new 678MM camera, improved software, two conferences, a VVS Whatsapp group, contributing to ProAm Paris Meudon (Bass2000), 2 articles in VVS magazine Heelal, 8 lectures but most impressive my 61 Sol'Ex sessions with 962 video shoots. 

Astronomical Challenges 2026

I made some preparation for 2026. Below list are my  Astronomical Challenges 2026 (source Hemel Calender 2026, SkySafari, Stellarium and ChatGPT)

By celestial body/event  (by date see below)

Planetoides

January 5 Eros (433) M33 

January 20 Nysa (44) M44 and 3I/Atlas

February 22 Psych (16) NGC1647

February 26-28 Papagena 471 Urania

April 26 Nysa (44) M44

July 28 Ceres (1) M1 

July 28 10P/ Tempel M30

Comets

February 23 24P/Schamuasse M5

March 6-8 46P/Wirtanen Hyaden Melotte25

March 8-14 10P/Tempel 40P/Vaisala

March 14-20 46P/Wirtanen Pleiades 

April 1 24P/Schamuasse M5

Jun 25: 10P/Tempel M72

June 15-25 C/2025 F2 M53

July 1 10P/Tempel NGC7009

October 23-24 10P/Tempel NGC 7507 7513

Planets

January 10 Opposition Jupiter 

June 3 Sodium tail Mercury

June 8, 12, 13 16 Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, Vesta, Pallas, Mercury, Moon 

July 11 Moon Pleiades Mars Urania

October 4 Opposition Saturn 

October 11 Mars M44

November 26 Sodium tail Mercury

Swingby Juice

28 september

3 december

Occultations

February 17: Felicia 294 UT20h36

Moon

January 27 Pleiades

February 25 Hesiodus Ray

August 28 Eclips

October 19 Hesiodus Ray

October 28 Pleiades

December 21 Pleiades

Variable stars

Februray 27 Algol

October 23 Algol

November 15 Algol

Eclips

August 12 Solar Eclipse

Variables to measure during one night and max +/- 1 or 5 days from new moon, according to ChatGPT 

By date 

January 5 Eros (433) M33 

January 10 Opposition Jupiter 

January 20 Nysa (44) M44 and 3I/Atlas

January 27 Moon Pleiades

February 17: Felicia 294 UT20h36

February 22 Psych (16) NGC1647

February 23 24P/Schamuasse M5

February 25 Moon Hesiodus Ray

February 26-28 Papagena 471 Urania

Februray 27 Algol

March 6-8 46P/Wirtanen Hyaden Melotte25

March 8-14 10P/Tempel 40P/Vaisala

March 14-20 46P/Wirtanen Pleiades 

April 1 24P/Schamuasse M5

April 26 Nysa (44) M44

June 3 Sodium tail Mercury

June 8, 12, 13 16 Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, Vesta, Pallas, Mercury, Moon 

June 15-25 C/2025 F2 M53

Jun 25: 10P/Tempel M72

July 1 10P/Tempel NGC7009

July 11 Moon Pleiades Mars Urania

July 28 Ceres (1) M1 

July 28 10P/ Tempel M30

August 12 Solar Eclipse

August 28 Moon Eclips

September 28 Swingby Juice

October 4 Opposition Saturn 

October 11 Mars M44

October 19 Moon Hesiodus Ray

October 23 Algol

October 23-24 10P/Tempel NGC 7507 7513

October 28 Moon Pleiades

November 15 Algol

November 26 Sodium tail Mercury

December 3 Swingby Juice

December 21 Moon Pleiades

Sun AR4294 4296 4298

Clouds dissapeared for a short time, allowing me to photograph the Sun. Why? Beacuse of a couple of huge sunspots: AR4294, 4296 and 4298. Size are 1280MH, 650MH and 100MH. 

Setting:

TAL200K f/8.5, ASI290MM and Nikon D7500

ND3.8, OIII filter and IR/UV cut filter

Software: SharpCap, AstroSurface, CS4

Saturn November 17

Imaging Saturn on November 17, 2025 with ring tilt of 0,38°.

Editing was done using the newest version of AstroSurface W3.

Setting: TAL200K, ADC, Barlowx2, ASI715MC

Filter: IR/UV Cut

Software: SharpCap, AstroSurface, CS4, DeNoise AI, WinJupos.

Eros (433) with M31 & M110

Image of Asteroid Eros (433) with M31 & M110. 

Setting: TLAPO80/480 f/6 with flattener and ASI2600MC
Filter: Optolong L-Pro
Camera temperature: -20,7°C
Exposure time: 39x 57s,
Software: SharpCap, ASTAP, CS4, APP (Stellarium & Skysafari)

The flattener was used but with wrong distance: 93 instead of 123mm.

Asteroid EROS (433) my first blink!

Asteroid EROS (433) is almost in opposition and thus perfect for observation.  I had a clear sky with a tempurature of -4,2°C .

Setting: TLAPO80/480 f/6 with flattener and ASI2600MC

Filter: Optolong L-Pro

Camera temperature: -20,7°C

Exposure time: 39x 57s, 

Software: SharpCap, ASTAP, CS4, APP (Stellarium & Skysafari)

Difficulties: connection of mount with Sharpcap was not succesful except for moving the scope. But inaccurate use of goto function and platesolving. It even resulted in miscommunication with the mount. As a result I had to set the synscan back into factory setting. After 3h I was able to make my first image but then I figured out the camera hit the tripod. Once this was solved I made 40 images of which one polluted with an airplane. 

Making sure both Eros and M31 was on my picture, I used stellarium without success. This was resolved with Skysafari.

Sun with Sol'Ex November 8th

A clear sky and enough time for adjusting sharpness. Solution was found in getting the spectrum line in the middle of the space; I get sharpest images when both edges are sharp. Once this was done, I make sure the dustlines on the grating are well seen. 

Setting: TLAPO80/480 with Sol'Ex by James R. and ASI678MM

2nd Gen Slit and Herschel Wedge

Software: SharpCap, Inti V7.0.3, CS4, DeNoise AI

Tilt 0,09°; Sx/Sy 1,09

SSM3 with avg < 1,5arcs whole morning