Coronado PST

On Wed, 26 May 2004 17:46:20 +0100, Martin Frey
wrote:

Pete Lawrence wrote:

I know it's going to be subjective to describe it but... Is the
contrast good? Can you get a picture?

http://www.hadastro.org.uk/images/Pst040526-02.jpg

Second attempt to post this - first one seems to have vanished.

Held my little digital camera to the eyepiece and hoped. Not much
control of this fairly automatic camera and no processing done beyond
a slight crop.

Thanks for posting this Martin. I'm envious - I haven't looked at the
Sun through an H-Alpha filter since my University days. Can you tune
these scopes?

--
Pete Lawrence
http://www.pbl33.co.uk
Most recent images http://www.pbl33.fast24.co.uk/recent_images.html

Pete Lawrence wrote:

Thanks for posting this Martin. I'm envious - I haven't looked at the
Sun through an H-Alpha filter since my University days. Can you tune
these scopes?

Yes - there is a big knurled ring that does about half a turn: it
seemed at first that you could either see surface detail or
prominences depending on the tuning. I know think there is a mid point
that shows 99% of what's to be seen from both. It doesn't begin to
match the 90mm solarmax I looked through at Astrofest but it seems to
be as good as any other 40mm - nothing cheap about it (not even the
price - except it has halved the cost of entry level H-a)

I did look longingly at the Canon 300D in Jessops window this
morning... I feel a life of crime beckoning.

PS my ****e neighbour was arrested this evening: cheaper and possibly
even more pleasurable than getting a PST.

--
Martin Frey
http://www.hadastro.org.uk
N 51 02 E 0 47

On Thu, 27 May 2004 01:36:37 +0100, Martin Frey
wrote:

Yes - there is a big knurled ring that does about half a turn: it
seemed at first that you could either see surface detail or
prominences depending on the tuning. I know think there is a mid point
that shows 99% of what's to be seen from both. It doesn't begin to
match the 90mm solarmax I looked through at Astrofest but it seems to
be as good as any other 40mm - nothing cheap about it (not even the
price - except it has halved the cost of entry level H-a)

The filter that I used at Uni many years ago was about 3" thick with
multiple layers. Unfortunately, something had got into the filter and
was 'growing' from the outside in. This left a tiny windows to
observe through. Views were fantastic though.

I did look longingly at the Canon 300D in Jessops window this
morning... I feel a life of crime beckoning.

Don't go all chap on me Martin - get a 10D ;-)

PS my ****e neighbour was arrested this evening: cheaper and possibly
even more pleasurable than getting a PST.

Excellent result. Now go back to the authorities that threatened you
for inciting neighbourly hatred and demand an apology.

--
Pete Lawrence
http://www.pbl33.co.uk
Most recent images http://www.pbl33.fast24.co.uk/recent_images.html

Pete Lawrence wrote:

Don't go all chap on me Martin - get a 10D ;-)

You mean size does matter?

PS my ****e neighbour was arrested this evening: cheaper and possibly
even more pleasurable than getting a PST.

Excellent result. Now go back to the authorities that threatened you
for inciting neighbourly hatred and demand an apology.

The apology I already had. What swung the arrest was the first decent
result I've got from my from Mintron ccd camera. Up until last night
it has been an expensive mistake - I can see quite faint objects
through it but get no contrast so no detail. Anyway last night it
copped a really clear view of the man driving his pickup truck
straight into my neighbour's car. RESULT. So now I'm even quite
pleased to have got the Mintron. Must try it on the PST but suspect
the field of view will be tiny.


--
Martin Frey
http://www.hadastro.org.uk
N 51 02 E 0 47

On Thu, 27 May 2004 10:09:06 +0100, Martin Frey
wrote:

Don't go all chap on me Martin - get a 10D ;-)

You mean size does matter?

Only in a smallest wallet competition.

The apology I already had. What swung the arrest was the first decent
result I've got from my from Mintron ccd camera. Up until last night
it has been an expensive mistake - I can see quite faint objects
through it but get no contrast so no detail. Anyway last night it
copped a really clear view of the man driving his pickup truck
straight into my neighbour's car. RESULT.

I've heard it all now. Perhaps youc could get it on
www.SpaceWeather.com - "Comet NEAT behind out of control ramming
neighbour".

--
Pete Lawrence
http://www.pbl33.co.uk
Most recent images http://www.pbl33.fast24.co.uk/recent_images.html

One of the '5'then..... I phoned telescope house again, to be told
only 5 have come in and I am hoping another few come in before THE
DATE.

Try the processing tips for Halpha images in the July S&T, ought to
improve your shots a bit more, then we can really see what we have.

Can you tell us how much of the disc detail is visible, granulation
and the dark filaments?? Were you using the included 12mm eyepiece? Do
you think a bit more would be useful?? How small details are
visible..... Darn, I ca't wait till I don't have to ask someone else
about it.

Yes - there is a big knurled ring that does about half a turn: it
seemed at first that you could either see surface detail or
prominences depending on the tuning. I know think there is a mid point
that shows 99% of what's to be seen from both. It doesn't begin to
match the 90mm solarmax I looked through at Astrofest but it seems to
be as good as any other 40mm - nothing cheap about it (not even the
price - except it has halved the cost of entry level H-a)

I believe this is only to help with the double stacking, do the
instructions help??

I did look longingly at the Canon 300D in Jessops window this
morning... I feel a life of crime beckoning.

10D, my father has one, lovely bit of kit, everything else is not
worth the hassle. Personally I want a 'full frame' digital SLR so I
can do 'proper' ultra wideangle shots!

Well done again on being on of the 'chosen few!'

PEterW

(Peter Woolliams) wrote:

One of the '5'then..... I phoned telescope house again, to be told
only 5 have come in and I am hoping another few come in before THE
DATE.

I got mine from APM Germany.

Try the processing tips for Halpha images in the July S&T, ought to
improve your shots a bit more, then we can really see what we have.

Thanks - will have a look

Can you tell us how much of the disc detail is visible, granulation
and the dark filaments?? Were you using the included 12mm eyepiece? Do
you think a bit more would be useful?? How small details are
visible..... Darn, I ca't wait till I don't have to ask someone else
about it.

Included 12.5mm Kelner - seems good. Went up as far as 7mm - still
looked good. 5mm not so good. I thought I could see granulation - but
suspect that's impossible with such a small aperture (unless different
rules apply to H-a) filaments and activity round the central spot
group seemed very rich. Individual filaments? prominences? in the
hedge visible yesterday clearly distinguished.

Yes - there is a big knurled ring that does about half a turn:

I believe this is only to help with the double stacking, do the
instructions help??

Very few instructions - probably helpful. I am a bloke so I only read
them late last night. The knurled ring does tune it: you can maximise
for surface detail and then turn it to getmaximum prominence detail -
but there is a spot that gives 90-95% of both. It may be more useful
photographically when you can combine a shot for the interior with one
for the exterior.

Well done again on being on of the 'chosen few!'

I feel very lucky. Markus Ludes of APM broke the news of the PST in
October or November last year and, though I didn't know it, he also
broke an embargo and got a slapped wrist from Coronado.

I meanwhile booked one from Markus and posted to Yahoo solar-observers
what good news h-a at this price was. Personal slapped wrist for me
from Coronado sales director within minutes. Then the delays started
and I thought I'd been sent to the bottom of the class anyway.

--
Martin Frey
http://www.hadastro.org.uk
N 51 02 E 0 47