Comments on: Sunspot 978???

By: A star visible in the daytime! « Flintstone Stargazing

A star visible in the daytime! « Flintstone Stargazing — Sun, 09 Dec 2007 17:33:09 +0000

[...] see some sunspots in the bottom right picture. I first saw this grouping of sunspots mentioned on Andrew’s blog. If you look at his image, he gets better color because he’s using a glass filter rather than [...]

By: Ed

Ed — Sat, 08 Dec 2007 20:37:27 +0000

Nope – that’s great. I was just curious how you do it without blinding yourself.

By: Andrew

Andrew — Sat, 08 Dec 2007 18:22:04 +0000

Heh,no I can’t see Polaris but,I knw pretty much where it is in the day sky.From previous observing sessions I noted where the scope was pointed in relation to some near by buildings and a distant light pole.I then slew the scop to a object that is in the vicinity of the sun (in this case,it was jupiter) and making sure the filter is in place.I don’t have a filter for the spotting scope so getting it pointed at the sun is a bit tricky,I use the OTA’s shadow on the ground as a guide to getting it really close by looking at the shadows orientation, i.e if the OTA shadow is oval then I need to tweak it until the shadow is more circular.Then I will look in the eyepiece and then it is just a matter of adjusting.
Sorry tha was a long drawn out answer .

By: Ed

Ed — Sat, 08 Dec 2007 15:34:52 +0000

One more question – how do you align your scope? I’m assuming you can’t see Polaris Okay, two more questions – how do you point the scope – do you have a filter for your spotting scope?

By: Andrew

Andrew — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 19:24:26 +0000

Hi Ed,it is a glass filter.I like it because it gives a natural color.I don’t fully trust mylar,reason being that Mylar seems like it would be kind of flimsy and easily torn?!.Regardless,it was nice to have the scope out,even if it was for only a hour.The windchills were in the upper single numbers which caused me to run in to get warm quite often.

By: Andrew

Andrew — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 19:19:36 +0000

Thanks Bob,this is the first clear day that we have had in almost 2 weeks and wouldn’t you know it…..it has clouded up again .

By: Ed

Ed — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 03:03:31 +0000

Very cool. Are you using a mylar solar filter or glass?

By: Bob

Bob — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 02:50:57 +0000

Awesome pics, I am so jealous, we have had clouds for ever -20c highs temps, and you are right, any activity is remarkable for the Sun right now.