Sol'Ex Project

I have a new challenge .... Sol'Ex project. Sol’Ex will allow me to observe the surface of the Sun in various spectral lines: Hydrogen, Helium, Sodium, Calcium and many other ones. Sol’Ex is a very compact astronomical Solar instrument, DIY construction, easy to install on your refracting telescope. So far I'm observing the sun in white lights, H-alpha and CaK line. Sol'ex will expand this to a next level with more spectral lines and more detail. And with detail I mean up to <0,05nm. 

It will be a new, fun, progressive project, and will be the gateway to the world of spectroscopy. The Sol'Ex project was kicked off a week ago with the support and help of my Helios collegues Walter and Johan. 

Yesterday, a test was done of the 3D printed material for infrared leaks. All tested material performed well with no infrared leaks. The test was done using ASI178MM with SharpCap4.

More information will follow but if interested see my usefull links  and look for Sol'Ex.

My pictures of rare Parhelic Circle and Circumscribed Halo published in Heelal Magazine

My article and both pictures of my observation of a rare Parhelic Circle and Circumscribed Halo is published in Heelal magazine (Year 2023, number 7, July 2023, page 24 & 25).

See my previous blogposts : blogpost

Rare Parhelic Circle and Circumscribed Halo and Again circumscribed halo with parhelic circle

Article Mars in M44 published in Heelal magazine

My picture and article of planet Mars in open starcluster M44 (Beehive) is published in Heelal magazine (year 68, number 7, july 2023, page 25).

See also my blogpost of Mars in Beehive M44.

Sun in CaK and CaK with reducer set up

Full Sun disc using reducer x0,5 on TLAPO80/480 f/6 with Baader CaK filter. Sunspots and supergranulation cells at the limb are visible.

Setting: TLAPO80/480 f/6 with 0,5x reducer and ASI290MM
Filter: ND3.8 and Baader CaK 8nm double stacked

Software: SharpCap 4, AS3!, CS4, DeNoise AI

Set up from right to left: 

Ring, ocular holder,  CaK filter, 1,25 to2" ring, ring, ring, reducer x0.5, ring and ASI290MM

Airplane on CaK Sundisk

An airplane crossed the sundisk when imaging the Sun in CaK.

For more information of this session see my previous blogpost

Sun in CaK June 24

I made some images of the Sun in CaK (Baader filter double stacked 8nm). Both sunspots and the supergranulation at the limb are visible.

Setting: TLAPO80/480 f/6 with ASI290MM

Filter: Solarfilm Baader 3.8 and Baader CaK filter 8nm

Software: SharpCap4, AutoStakkert3!, CS4, DeNoise AI

Sun H-Alpha with New AstroSurface U4 Urania

 

I reworked my images from the Sun of June 3, 2023. This time I used only one software package, AstroSurface. On top of this I used the new version of AstroSurface, version U4 Urania.

My previous image proces flow:

- AS3! for stacking

- IMPPG Deconvolution

- CS4 for fnal editing

Current image proves flow:

- AstroSurface U4 Urania

- CS4 for final editing

With my limited experience I see no real change but for sure it's more easy to use one software for processing. 

Setting: SolarMaxIII 70/400 f/5.7, ASI290MM with reducer x0.5

Software: SharpCap4, AstroSurface U4 Urania, CS4

Lights: 3000 frames using seeing monitor and using flats; AstroSurface stacking best 10%