[LVAS] Solar Observing at Springs Preserve

[Robert Lambert]

Hi David,

When could I pick up the solar scope.  I would like to do some experimenting with it and the Mallincam before next weekend.  I would like to sit under a canopy and let the Mallincam do the work.  Speaking of canopy, will you be using yours at the convention next weekend or is that one indoors?  May I borrow your canopy if you aren't using it?

Rob


 
On Jul 31, 2010, at 1:59 PM, David Blanchette wrote:

> We had our little outing today.  Paul & Laura Kelm, John Heller and I 
> got out and set up telescopes.  John and Paul had white light 
> filters, I had my H-Alpha and the club's H-Alpha scopes.
> 
> I think we had around 35 people come by (Laura will probably correct 
> that number, as she was keeping score.)
> 
> The lone sunspot was a pretty good one.  It has just recently come 
> around the limb of the sun, had a nice umbra and penumbra.
> 
> In H-Alpha, the view was wonderful.  The sunspot as dead black, but 
> surrounded by activity.  There were two large filaments, both about 
> 1/3 to 1/2 the sun's diameter.  There were three other filaments, 1/4 
> the sun's diameter and smaller.  There were a number of prominences, 
> but they were all small spikes, except for one hedge type that popped 
> up while we were looking.
> 
> The club's solar scope is very nice.  The double stack make for a dim 
> image, but when you take a minute to let your pupil open up, the 
> detail is sharp, clear, with a lot of contrast between the filaments 
> and the surface.  With my telescope, with the single filter, the disk 
> of the sun was brighter, which washed out the filaments to some 
> extent.  If you let your eye get "tired" of the color and brightness, 
> the details became much sharper.
> 
> The problem with all this is you are standing in the sun on a 104.5 
> degree day.  I'm considering designing some sort of PVC pipe 
> contraption, that I can place and move around my telescope, and drape 
> a sheet or tablecloth over.  The idea is to give your head a dark 
> cloak to hide in while you look, but not actually block the view of 
> the sun.  Maybe have a little swamp cooler inflating the sheet...
> 
> If you have an H-Alpha filter, take a moment to check out the 
> sun.  The filaments have been there a few days, but should go around 
> the limb in a couple more, if they don't collapse before then.  It's 
> well worth a look.
> 
> -- David
> ____________________________
> David Blanchette
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> VITAC
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