Solar Photography during the Solar Eclipse *recommendations needed* Generic equipment discussions · miyan9 · ... · 22 · 1010 · 12

For 2,500 dollars, I would get a normal refractor then add something like a Daystar Quark or a Lunt CaK module, but that's just me.

Would I be able to use this Daystar Quark Gemini on any William Optics RedCat and image using a ZWO 1600mm camera?

Matt Dees:

Furthermore, 250mm focal length paired with a 1600mm pro would give an FOV that is a little too wide in my opinion:

And here is 900mm focal length, which is a common FL in 4 inch refractors; you can get a Doublet like this for $1000 (not including a flattener):

 I think the Daystar Quark has a 4.2x Barlow built in. Wouldn't that make his 250mm redcat 1050mm?

Ed Dixon:
I have a Quark and it works well.  However with its 4.2 barlow view, you need a lower bandwidth scope.  I use a WO Z61, and with a ASI174MM you only get about half of the full disc.  I also have a ASI294MM, but it still gets less than full disk.  With a Nikon Zfc you get full disk, or most other APS-C or full frame format cameras.

1. WO Z61 scope, Quark, and Nikon Zfc camera an iOptron Sky Guider Pro
2. ZWO SeeStar with solar filter
3. WO GT71 scope, solar filter and Nikon D780 on a HEM27 mount
4. iPhone 14 for images of landscape and darkness progress on a fixed tripod

Firstly, I'm not the OP, but I think this is a good thread for all people preparing or wanting to prepare for the eclipse (it's fine if you don't think so, anyone can ignore my post).

I don't know what I should do for the eclipse. I don't want to be unprepared like that last one last year, the partial one. (I used solar glasses for that one, and it was amazing for a minute, but then, it was, kinda lame... I guess I'm looking at too many solar images online?)

I have these things:

ASI533MC Pro
AVX Mount
50mm Orion Deluxe Guide scope
ASI120MM Mini for the guide scope
C8-N
ASIair Mini

I'm thinking I could get a white light filter for my guidescope and do imaging from there, but I'm afraid I'll lack a lot of detail with that. I'm thinking I could try out a Calcium-K module and do Mono with the guidescope?

Or I could plop the guide cam in the Newt's focuser and try to get close-up with the sun? Is there a cheap solar filter that is better than a white light filter? I would need spacers for this, but I can do it.

And then I'm thinking of using the Newt with an 8 inch white light filter, but my cooled cam is color and I'm thinking color is not good for solar, but I could maybe turn up the cooling? Or should I maybe go for a Quark? How would a Quark do with a color cam? How would the bright light effect the mirrors if it bounces around internally?

Furthermore, how is solar imaging done? Is it the same like lunar and planetary, where the APer takes a long video, puts the video in a software that separates and aligns the frames, and another (or the same) software to stack them? Which softwares?



- From Messierman3000, The Deep Questioner
White light filters are low cost and can be tried/tested now before the eclipse.  That will give you some idea of what you can expect then.  

I think that many prefer a mono camera for Solar imaging.  I have a couple of them I have used with good results.  I like the Quark, but it is limited to lower focal length scopes (80mm or less I think).The Coronado solar scopes are really great, but not low cost in any form.

The guide scope is an interesting idea and can be tried before as well.  I think they are better at guiding than imaging, but have no real experience with that use mode.

My solar imaging usually involved taking video at short exposure, and then stacking those later.  Both Autostackert and Registax work well here and are free.  I sometimes use GIMP for post processing here, and at times, Pixinsight as well.

The ZWO Seestar S50 includes a solar filter and works well.   Its a low cost unit that stands on its own.