Solar Observing Log 17/4/2016 12:30-14:00

Solar observing Log 17/4/2016 @ 12:30-14:00

Andrew, Damian, Ean Ean, Julie and Hannah. Andy's house.

Skywatcher 80mm Equinox Pro with DayStar Quark Hydrogen Alpha Filter on Sabre alt-az mount. Tele Vue 32mm Plossl eyepiece, Phil Dyer Astronomy Video Camera, Sony Alpha 350 DSLR camera.

Photos from today below - Damian and I are under cover looking at the laptop in the photos showing us both in strange positions!

The sun decided to make quite a show today so we decided to take a look. It was well worth it! Although there were large areas of cumulus cloud, clear blue sky intervened between these cloud banks and, when the sun was shining in these clear areas, views were amazing. A beautiful sun spot with fantastic detail, showing two distinct parts, was seen on left side of disc in the field of view of eyepiece (west as inverted in eyepiece view) with an incredible adjacent bright prominence on the limb of the sun. The Tele Vue Plossl is an ideal combination, giving full disc views of the sun. Ean Ean and Julie were on hand to enjoy the views - Julie's response was "wow!" So quite a success there. My daughter Hannah also came out to view the sun spot and prominence and enjoyed the view,

We attempted to take photographs of the sun without success today using the Phil Dyer video camera. Trying to do this using an undriven mount significantly contributed to this difficulty. So, in future, I will try taking photographs with the Skywatcher on my HEQ5 Pro mount that can follow the sun...... that is, if I can work out how to align the mount without being able to observe Polaris. The small sensor on the video camera makes it more difficult to place the sun in its field of view. However, with Damian and I working together, this was much easier to achieve. The laptop was difficult to view in the sun. I remember that Ed uses a box that he has made to house the laptop when he is viewing through his solar scope using a video camera and I think this is an excellent idea - if I can find the time I would like to make such a box before the Mercury transit of the sun on May 9th. Perhaps I can just use a cardboard box - should work - if nothing else I must make sure I take a black cloth to put over my head.

I also discovered that the power cable for my Quark is too short. I did an extension cable that works but has a loose wire so I have ordered another on eBay. It is cheaper to do that, rather than buy a new connector and replace it. Cheaper - in this ridiculous world it is the way things work - cheaper often to replace whole thing than fix it.

We also did not manage to get the Sony Alpha DSLR working successfully with the Quark but I still have hopes we can. The Mercury transit lasts several hours so I am hoping to bring quite a bit of this kit and see if I can't sort these things out then.....that is, if it is clear. Fingers crossed!