H-alpha anyone?

Discussions of using SharpCap for Solar or Lunar Imaging
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39N84W
Posts: 15
Joined: Sat May 19, 2018 4:02 pm

H-alpha anyone?

#1

Post by 39N84W »

Is anyone here doing EAA type observing with Sharpcap? I am wondering about applying flats and how to go about it... using a PST and 178MM camera.
dts350z
Posts: 39
Joined: Fri May 18, 2018 6:00 am

Re: H-alpha anyone?

#2

Post by dts350z »

I just started with PST doublestack and asi1600MM-cool.

Check here:

https://solarnutcase.livejournal.com/18572.html

https://stargazerslounge.com/topic/2423 ... ngle-pane/

I also extracted some notes from various other posts on cloudynights

"Solar color adjustments. Form: https://stargazerslounge.com/topic/1664 ... nt=1756396


In Photoshop go to

Image / adjustments / levels

Change the channel to red, then change the middle value to 1.6

Change the channel to green, and change the middle value to 0.7

Change the channel to blue, and change the middle value to 0.2

Then adjust brightness/contrast to how you like it.

I also have some variations (depends on the picture) with it being 1.7, 0.7, 0.2 or 1.7, 0.6, 0.2

When imaging the single stack (depending on the seeing which can vary) I usually use around 1/455 second, with
the double stack it drops to around 1/150 ish (can't remember the exact figures) so both are taken at the
full 15fps. I usually take around 1000 frames and stack the best 100-200. I use the Guassian wavelets and
don't change the centre value."

Don't know if you have a double stack, but:

"PST Doublestack Tuning:

First, you may want focus and adjust the PST's tuning ring WITHOUT the PSM40 module attached.
After you get the optimum image (best contrast/brightness), then attach the PSM40 module and adjust
the t-max thumbwheel on the PSM40 until the seconday ghost image/glare moves out of the field of view. Then, go back and re-focus and try adjusting the PST's tuning ring a little CCW and then back CW to see if there is any improvment in the image.

That's pretty much it.

and/or

Focus then the tuning ring then lastly the front tilt ring on the SM40

and

http://halpha.nso.edu/

I always check the latest GONG hydrogen alpha images once I have set up to see if I am getting the view well enough, if its not a worthy representation I sometimes go back to single stack and really get that tuned up, then add the DS over that again. Then fine focus and fine scan and hone in on the sweet spot. A session can be cycles of these micro tasks, and different sessions for me can vary in how rewarding they are and also how task orientated they are.

"Clocking" refers to turning (on it's threads) the double stack. Confusing in that some units have a trunable ring and some don't?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-41RMTCdTE&t=14s

"
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turfpit
Posts: 1779
Joined: Mon Feb 13, 2017 8:13 pm
Location: UK
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Re: H-alpha anyone?

#3

Post by turfpit »

@dts350z

Thanks for posting such an informative reply to the question - very useful.

Dave
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