Observing the Sun With Coronado Telescopes

by Pugh, Philip

• ISBN13: 9780387681269
• ISBN10: 0387681264
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2008-02-28
• Publisher: Springer Verlag

Summary

The Sun provides amateur astronomers with one of the few opportunities for daytime astronomy. In order to see the major features of our nearest star, special telescopes that have a very narrow visible bandwidth are essential. The bandwidth has to be as narrow as 1 - 10-10 m (1 Angstrom) and centred on the absorption line of neutral hydrogen. This makes many major features of the Sun's chromosphere visible to the observer. Such narrow-band "Fabry-Perot etalon filters" are high technology, and until the introduction of the Coronado range of solar telescopes, were too expensive for amateur use. The entry-level Coronado telescope, the PST (Personal Solar Telescope) costs under $500. Solar prominences (vast columns of plasma, best seen at the edge of the solar disk), filaments, flares, sunspots, plage and active regions are all visible and can be imaged to produce spectacular solar photographs. Philip Pugh has assembled a team of contributors who show just how much solar work can be done with Coronado telescopes, and explain how to get the best from these marvellous instruments.

Table of Contents

Preface	p. vii
Purpose	p. ix
Areas of Expertise	p. x
Acknowledgments	p. xi
List of Contributors	p. xxiii
Introduction	p. 1
The Lure of the Sun	p. 1
History	p. 1
Early Days	p. 2
Astronomy and the Sun Resurface	p. 3
The Solar Cycle	p. 6
Limitations of "White Light" Viewing	p. 7
The Outer Limits of Amateur "White Light" Observation	p. 8
Introduction to Hydrogen Alpha Viewing	p. 11
What Hydrogen Alpha Viewing Is	p. 12
What It Can Show You?	p. 14
Considering a Purchase	p. 20
Introduction to Calcium K Viewing	p. 22
Comparing Dedicated Telescopes Against Filters	p. 24
Observing Tips	p. 25
Recording Observations	p. 28
History of Coronado Instruments	p. 28
Outreach Programs	p. 29
Personal Solar Telescope	p. 31
Facts at a Glance	p. 32
Physical Description (PST)	p. 32
How to Store	p. 35
Mounting Options	p. 36
Mounting the PST on a Camera Tripod	p. 36
Mounting the PST on an EQ1 Equatorial Mount	p. 39
Using a Mounting Bracket for the PST	p. 39
MALTA Mount	p. 44
Mounting the PST on the MALTA Mount	p. 45
Finding the Sun	p. 46
Recommended Accessories	p. 51
SolarMax 40 Filter + T-Max Tuner	p. 51
Aztech Manhattan Tripod	p. 53
AC599 SolarMate Shade	p. 56
CEMAX Hydrogen Alpha Eyepieces	p. 57
AC645 Polarizing Filter	p. 61
Using Other Accessories	p. 61
Moonfish Group Eyepieces	p. 62
Magni Max Image Amplifier	p. 63
Skywatcher Long Eye Relief Eyepieces	p. 65
Skywatcher Zoom Eyepiece	p. 66
Skywatcher Plossls	p. 67
Celestron Moon Filter	p. 68
BC&F Telescope Cleaning Kit	p. 69
General Guidance on Accessories	p. 69
Photographic Accessories	p. 69
Capabilities and Limitations	p. 71
Appraisal	p. 75
Double Stacking a PST by Cameran Ashraf	p. 76
MaxScope 90	p. 85
Facts at a Glance	p. 86
Physical Description (MaxScope 90)	p. 86
How to Store	p. 90
Mounting Options	p. 90
Tips and Tricks	p. 94
Building a Solid Foundation	p. 94
Micro Observatory	p. 95
Imaging the Sun: Choosing the Right CCD	p. 97
Recommended Accessories	p. 99
CEMAX Eyepieces	p. 100
Antares 2x Barlow Lens	p. 100
Antares 3x Barlow Lens	p. 101
Celestron 2x Ultima Barlow lens	p. 102
General Notes on Accessories	p. 102
Capabilities and Limitations	p. 103
Appraisal	p. 109
Other Coronado Solar Telescopes	p. 111
MaxScope 40	p. 112
Facts at a Glance	p. 114
Physical Description	p. 115
How to Store	p. 116
Mounting Options	p. 116
Finding the Sun	p. 117
Focusing the MaxScope 40	p. 117
Recommended Accessories	p. 118
Using Other Accessories	p. 121
General Guidance on Accessories	p. 123
Capabilities and Limitations	p. 123
Appraisal	p. 127
MaxScope 60	p. 128
Facts at a Glance	p. 128
Physical Description	p. 129
How to Store	p. 129
Mounting Options	p. 129
Finding the Sun	p. 129
Focusing	p. 129
Recommended Accessories	p. 130
Capabilities and Limitations	p. 130
Appraisal	p. 137
MaxScope 70	p. 138
Facts at a Glance	p. 139
Physical Description	p. 139
How to Store	p. 140
Mounting Options	p. 140
Finding the Sun	p. 141
Recommended Accessories	p. 141
Using Other Accessories	p. 142
General Guidance on Accessories	p. 145
Capabilities and Limitations	p. 146
Appraisal	p. 146
PST CaK	p. 149
Nick's Impressions	p. 149
Philip's Impressions	p. 150
Facts at a Glance	p. 152
Physical Description	p. 153
How to Store	p. 153
Mounting Options	p. 153
Finding the Sun	p. 153
Recommended Accessories	p. 153
Using other Accessories	p. 154
General Guidance on Accessories	p. 154
Capabilities and Limitations	p. 154
Appraisal	p. 155
CaK 70	p. 156
Facts at a Glance	p. 158
Physical Description	p. 159
How to Store	p. 159
Mounting Options	p. 159
Finding the Sun	p. 159
Recommended Accessories	p. 159
Using Other Accessories	p. 159
General Guidance on Accessories	p. 160
Capabilities and Limitations	p. 160
Appraisal	p. 162
Imaging	p. 165
Hydrogen Alpha	p. 165
Cometh the Hour...Cometh the Software	p. 168
Why Two Software Applications?	p. 169
The Imaging Process and Setting Up	p. 171
Setup of the Telescope	p. 172
Imaging the Sun	p. 174
Coaxing the Most Detail Out of the Image	p. 206
Compositing the Images to Make the Final Shot	p. 209
The Calcium Connection	p. 211
Imaging in White Light	p. 215
What Filter to Use?	p. 215
The Herschel Wedge	p. 217
Alternative Products	p. 221
CromixSun	p. 221
Physical Description	p. 222
Buying Units	p. 225
Market Penetration	p. 225
Recommended Telescopes for Use	p. 225
Recommended Accessories	p. 226
Capabilities and Limitations	p. 228
Appraisal	p. 229
DayStar Filters	p. 232
Appraisal	p. 241
Untried Products	p. 249
SolarMax CaK 60 Filter Set	p. 249
Facts at a Glance	p. 249
Using a SolarMax CaK 60 Filter	p. 250
Recommended Accessories	p. 250
Capabilities and Limitations	p. 251
CaK 90	p. 251
Facts at a Glance	p. 252
Physical Description (CaK 90)	p. 252
How to Store	p. 252
Mounting Options	p. 252
Recommended Accessories	p. 253
Capabilities and Limitations	p. 253
SolarScope 50-mm Filter Set	p. 253
Facts at a Glance	p. 253
Using a SolarScope 50-mm Filter Set	p. 254
Recommended Accessories	p. 254
Capabilities and Limitations	p. 255
SolarScope SolarView 50	p. 257
Facts at a Glance	p. 258
Using a SolarScope SolarView 50	p. 258
Recommended Accessories	p. 259
Capabilities and Limitations	p. 259
SolarScope SolarView 60	p. 259
Facts at a Glance	p. 259
Using a SolarScope SolarView 60	p. 260
Recommended Accessories	p. 260
Capabilities and Limitations	p. 261
Lumicon Solar Prominence Filters	p. 262
Thousand Oaks Filters	p. 263
Energy Rejection Filter	p. 263
Hydrogen Alpha Unit	p. 264
Capabilities and Limitations	p. 264
Summary	p. 267
Personal Solar Telescope	p. 268
MaxScope 40	p. 269
MaxScope 70	p. 270
MaxScope 60	p. 270
MaxScope 90	p. 271
Use of Separate Filter Systems	p. 271
Calcium K Equipment	p. 272
Accessories	p. 272
Eyepieces	p. 272
Image Amplifiers	p. 273
Double Stacking	p. 275
Mounting	p. 275
Other Accessories	p. 276
Imaging	p. 277
Getting the Most from Your Coronado Telescope	p. 277
Unanswered Questions and Unquestioned Answers	p. 278
The Final Word	p. 279
The Physics of the Sun	p. 281
Solar Facts	p. 281
The Sun as a Star	p. 282
Birth, Life, and Death of the Sun	p. 283
The Solar Structure	p. 284
The Core	p. 284
The Radiative Zone	p. 285
The Interface Layer (Tachocline)	p. 285
The Convection Zone	p. 285
The Photosphere	p. 286
The Chromosphere	p. 286
The Transition Region	p. 286
The Corona	p. 286
Coronado Price List	p. 289
Telescopes	p. 289
Binoculars	p. 291
Filters	p. 291
Eyepieces	p. 292
Other Accessories	p. 292
Glossary	p. 295
	p. 295
Accessories	p. 295
Active Region	p. 296
Afocal Adaptor	p. 296
Afocal Coupling	p. 296
Afocal Photography	p. 296
Afocal Projection	p. 296
Angstrom/Angstrom Unit	p. 296
Annular Solar Eclipse	p. 296
Antares	p. 296
AzTech	p. 296
	p. 297
Baader Filter	p. 297
Bandpass	p. 297
Bayer Filter Mosaic	p. 297
BCF/BC&F	p. 297
BF5/BF10 and BF15/BF30	p. 297
BinoMite	p. 297
BK-7	p. 298
Blocking Filter	p. 298
Bresser GIRO	p. 298
Broadband	p. 298
	p. 298
CaK/Calcium K	p. 298
Canon	p. 298
CCD/Charge Coupled Device	p. 298
Celestron	p. 298
Cell Structure	p. 299
CEMAX	p. 299
Chromosphere	p. 299
Chromatic Aberration	p. 299
Chromosphere	p. 299
CMOS	p. 299
CONR	p. 299
Convection Zone	p. 300
Core	p. 300
Corona	p. 300
Coronado	p. 300
Coronal Mass Ejection	p. 300
Creative Labs	p. 300
CromixSun	p. 300
	p. 301
DayStar	p. 301
Dedicated Solar Telescope	p. 301
Double Stacking	p. 301
	p. 301
Energy Rejection Filter	p. 301
Etalon	p. 301
	p. 301
Fabry-Perot Etalon	p. 301
Facula	p. 301
Faculae	p. 302
Filament	p. 302
Flare	p. 302
Focal Reducer	p. 302
Full Aperture Filter	p. 302
	p. 302
Ghosting	p. 302
GIRO	p. 302
Granularity	p. 302
GSO	p. 303
	p. 303
H Alpha/Hydrogen Alpha	p. 303
Helios I	p. 303
	p. 303
Image Amplifier	p. 303
Interface Layer	p. 303
Interstellar Medium	p. 303
	p. 303
K3CCD	p. 303
Kellner	p. 304
Knight Owl	p. 304
	p. 304
Long Eye Relief (LER)	p. 304
LPI	p. 304
Lumicon	p. 304
Luminance	p. 304
Lux Value	p. 304
	p. 305
Magic Box	p. 305
Magnetic Field (Solar)	p. 305
Magni Max	p. 305
Main Sequence	p. 305
Maksutov	p. 305
MALTA	p. 305
Manfrotto	p. 305
Maunder Minimum	p. 305
MaxScope	p. 306
Meade	p. 306
Micro Observatory	p. 306
Monochrome Light	p. 306
Moonfish Group	p. 306
	p. 306
Nagler	p. 306
Nanometer	p. 306
Narrowband	p. 307
NearStar	p. 307
Newton's Rings	p. 307
Nikon	p. 307
	p. 307
Paint Shop Pro	p. 307
Personal Solar Telescope/PST	p. 307
Photoshop	p. 307
Photosphere	p. 307
Pixelated/Pixelation	p. 307
Plage	p. 308
Plossl	p. 308
Population I/II/III	p. 308
PostProcessing	p. 308
Prominence	p. 308
PST	p. 308
	p. 308
Radiative Zone	p. 308
Registax	p. 308
Revelation	p. 309
Riverside Telescope Makers' Conference (RTMC)	p. 309
	p. 309
Skywatcher	p. 309
SolarScope	p. 309
SolarView	p. 309
Sol Finder	p. 309
Soligor	p. 309
Sol Ranger	p. 309
SolarMax	p. 310
Solar Projection	p. 310
SolarScope	p. 310
Sony	p. 310
Spicules	p. 310
Spectrohelioscope	p. 310
Starlight Express	p. 310
Sunspot	p. 310
Super Wide Angle	p. 310
Sweet Spot/Sweet Band	p. 311
	p. 311
Tachocline	p. 311
Televue	p. 311
Terminal Light Path Filters	p. 311
Thousand Oaks	p. 311
T-Max	p. 311
Toucam	p. 311
Transition Region	p. 311
	p. 312
WDM Mode	p. 312
Webcam	p. 312
White Light	p. 312
	p. 312
Yellow Dwarf	p. 312
Index	p. 313
Table of Contents provided by Ingram. All Rights Reserved.