Stargazing How Can You Improve Your Amateur Solar Imaging Techniques?

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The discussion focuses on improving amateur solar imaging techniques, encouraging participants to share their own images and experiences rather than relying on professional sources. Contributors discuss various camera settings, equipment, and filters used for capturing solar activity, emphasizing the importance of using appropriate filters like white-light or Ha filters for better detail. Techniques such as "lucky imaging" are highlighted, where multiple images are taken to select the sharpest frames for stacking, improving overall image quality. Participants express interest in tracking solar activity as the sun approaches solar maximum, sharing insights on equipment and settings for effective imaging. The thread fosters a collaborative environment for enthusiasts to learn and enhance their solar imaging skills.
  • #241
30 Jan 2022 from home
Canon 6D, 1000 Oaks Solar Filter, 400mm telephoto with 2 x converter (800mm)
The large region is AR2396 the small single spot lower right is AR2934
 

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  • #242
10 Feb. 2022 from home
Canon 6D MKII ( new Camera prev. post was the older 6D), 1000 Oaks Solar Filter,
400mm telephoto with 2 x converter (800mm)

Image hasnt been rotated ...

220210 Sunspots.jpg
 
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  • #243
Sunspots for 02 April 2022
2 major groups which include 4 active regions
left centre - AR's 2978 and 2981
right edge - AR's 2975 and 2975
Canon 6D Ii 400mm telephoto + 2 x converter
White light solar filter

2022-04-02-0029-SharpenAI-Softness-2.jpg
 
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  • #244
This large Sunspot group 24 Apr. 2022 continues to progress across the solar disk
This group comprises of several different active regions
The flares have eased off over the last 24 hours
Canon 6D II, 100 - 400mm @400mm + 2 x converter, 800mm total
and a Thousand Oaks white light filter

2022-04-24-0039-SharpenAI-Softness sm.jpg
 
Last edited:
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  • #245
This large Sunspot, 07 May 2022 continues to progress across the solar disk. Another couple of days and it will slip around the limb
Spot motion is, from our view, left to right. East to West.
The flares have been regular from this region over the last 5 days.
There is another small group in the lower left
Canon 6D II, 100 - 400mm @400mm + 2 x converter, 800mm total and a Thousand Oaks white light filter

220507 Sunspots.jpg
 
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  • #246
A catch up of some latest solar activity
All images with a Canon 6D, 800mm ( 400 + 2x teleconverter)
and a Thousand Oaks white light filter

The spot group to the right on the disc has been producing a few large M class flares
over the 1st and 2nd of Oct. - M5.8 and M8.3 and the largest one, today, at X1.0

25 Sept. 2022
220925 0261-SAIF vsm.jpg


30 Sept. 2022
220930 0265-SAIF vsm.jpg


1 Oct. 2022
221001 0268-SAIF vsm.jpg


cheers
Dave
 
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  • #247
3rd Oct. 2022

All images with a Canon 6D, 800mm (400 + 2x teleconverter)
and a Thousand Oaks white light filter

I don't do too much image editing, mostly some sharpening. I find that imaging through a camera
lens and teleconverter doesn't produce the sharpest of images. there is just so much glass in the
optical path.
If these were images through my telescope with no lenses in the optical path, there would be such
a huge difference.

I should have commented on earlier posts. I have always orientated the images to show the correct
orientation as displayed by professional sites ... NASA etc.
In that light, east is on the left side of the disk and north is to the top. The spots are rotating from east (left) to right.

Comparing this new image to the last one in the previous set of 3 images post. You can see a new
large region rotating into view around the east limb of the Sun. It was only just becoming visible
for the image on the 1st Oct. . It will be interesting to see if it starts unleashing flares in our direction.

20221003 0271 SAIF sm.jpg


Cheers
Dave
 
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  • #248
A catch up of some latest solar activity
All images with a Canon 6D II, 800mm ( 400 + 2x teleconverter)
and a Thousand Oaks white light filter

The sun it's spots for 9th, 10th and 12th Nov 2022

9th
20221109 0487 SAIF sm.jpg


10th
20221110 0489 SAIF sm.jpg


12th
20221112 0490 SAIF sm.jpg
 
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  • #249
A catch up of some latest solar activity
All images with a Canon 6D, 800mm (400 + 2x teleconverter)
and a Thousand Oaks white light filter

As usual, images have been correctly reorientated East is on left, North to the top
(Sunspots appear on the East limb and traverse the solar disk to the right)
The motion of the spot groups can be easily followed across the disk

20 Dec 2022
20221220 0529 SAIFvsm.jpg


21 Dec. 2022
20221221 0534 SAIFvsm.jpg


23 Dec 2022
20221223 0542 SAIFvsm.jpg


24 Dec 2022
20221224 0544 SAIFvsm.jpg


1 Jan. 2023
20230101 0547 SAIFvsm.jpg
cheers,
Dave
 
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  • #250
Major health hassles put me out of commission for over a week.
Only now finally getting a chance to post some of my latest solar images.

8, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15 Jan

As usual, all images with a Canon 6D, 800mm (400 + 2x teleconverter)
and a Thousand Oaks white light filter
Images have been correctly reorientated East is on left, North to the top
(Sunspots appear on the East limb (left side) and traverse the solar disk to the right)
The motion of the spot groups can be easily followed across the disk
 

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  • #251
davenn said:
Major health hassles put me out of commission for over a week.
Only now finally getting a chance to post some of my latest solar images.

8, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15 Jan

As usual, all images with a Canon 6D, 800mm (400 + 2x teleconverter)
and a Thousand Oaks white light filter
Images have been correctly reorientated East is on left, North to the top
(Sunspots appear on the East limb (left side) and traverse the solar disk to the right)
The motion of the spot groups can be easily followed across the disk
Oh yeah... that's what the sun looks like! Haven't seen it in weeks! Does that mean it's not really there?... :)
 
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  • #252
Sunspots for the 10 and 11 of Feb. 2023

As usual, all images with a Canon 6D, 800mm (400 + 2x teleconverter) and a Thousand Oaks white light filter
Images have been correctly reorientated East is on left, North to the top
(Sunspots appear on the East limb (left side) and traverse the solar disk to the right)

2023-02-10-0635-SAIF sm.jpg


2023-02-11-0640-SAIF sm.jpg
 
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  • #254
  • #256
Sunspots for the 18 and 19 of Feb. 2023
As usual, all images with a Canon 6D, 800mm (400 + 2x teleconverter) and a Thousand Oaks white light filter
Images have been correctly reorientated East is on left, North to the top
(Sunspots appear on the East limb (left side) and traverse the solar disk to the right)

2023-02-18-0650-SAIF sm.jpg


2023-02-19-0657-SAIF sm.jpg
 
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  • #257
The Sun - 10 May 2023

Canon 6D II, 800mm ( 400 + 2x teleconverter) and a Thousand Oaks white light filter
Images have been correctly reorientated East is on left, North to the top
(Sunspots appear on the East limb (left side) and traverse the solar disk to the right)

230510 Vis.jpg
 
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  • #258
last 3 days of sunspots 11, 12, 13th of May 2023
Canon 6D II, 800mm f/l, Orion white light filter
Sun has been correctly reorientated E on the left and spots move across the solar disk from left to right

20230511 2045 SAIF sm.jpg


20230512 2051 SAIF sm.jpg


20230513 2053 SAIF sm.jpg
 
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  • #259
last 4 days of sunspots 18, 19, 20th and 21st of May 2023
Canon 6D II, 800mm f/l, Orion white light filter
Sun has been correctly reorientated E on the left and spots move across the solar disk from left to right

20230518-2061-SAIF sm.jpg


20230519-2063-SAIF sm.jpg


20230520-2067-SAIF sm.jpg


20230521-2069-SAIF sm.jpg


Cheers
Dave
 
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  • #262
Latest set of sunspot images, 22, 23, 24th and 26 and 27th of May 2023
Canon 6D II, 800mm f/l, Orion white light filter
Sun has been correctly reorientated E on the left and spots move across the solar disk from left to right

20230522-2074-SAIFsm.jpg


20230523-2077-SAIFsm.jpg


20230524-2079-SAIFsm.jpg


20230526-2085-SAIFsm.jpg


20230527-2089-SAIFsm.jpg


cheers
Dave
 
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  • #263
Latest set of sunspot images, 29, 30 May and 01 and 02 of June 2023
Canon 6D II, 800mm f/l, Orion white light filter
Sun has been correctly reorientated E on the left and spots move across the solar disk from left to right

20230529-2117-SAIF.jpg


20230530-2118-SAIF.jpg


20230601-2120-SAIF.jpg


20230602-2122-SAIF.jpg
cheers
Dave
 
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  • #264
davenn said:
The Sun in Ha 13 Apr 2018

Been off work all week with a not nice case of bronchitis, am feeling very unwell :frown:
but did decide to haul the gear out today and do some solar imaging
Reasonably quiet, 4 or 5 small filaments across lower part of disk, 2 groups of prominences on opposite limbs.
The new active region has moved further onto the disk and is showing an associated filament ...
The seeing conditions were better than yesterday
Lunt LS60THa, ZWO ASI1600MM and SharpCap capture software

View attachment 223970

View attachment 223971

View attachment 223972

View attachment 223973

Cheers
Dave
Hello, new here. If you still have your LS60 and ASI1600MM, would you please post an image of the camera mounted on the LS60?
 
  • #265
SusieQ said:
Hello, new here. If you still have your LS60 and ASI1600MM, would you please post an image of the camera mounted on the LS60?
Hi there
Welcome to PF :smile:

not sure if I have taken a pic or not, I will have a look this weekend :smile:

cheers
Dave
 
  • #266
Thank you, very kind of you. 🙂
 
  • #267
SusieQ said:
Thank you, very kind of you. 🙂

I dont have one with the ASI1600 attached, just one with the ASI178

1688125097192.png

Next time I'm imaging, will try and remember to photo the upgraded setup
 
  • #268
Hey everyone
Sorry I havent posted any images for a while, life has been a bit hectic.
Time for a catchup. The last image in the previous image post was for the 2nd June 2023.
This post with start with the 6th June and continue from there :smile:

As Always.....
Canon 6D II, 800mm f/l, Orion white light filter
Sun has been correctly reorientated E on the left and spots move across the solar disk from left to right

6 June 2023
2023-06-06-2128SAIF.jpg


7 June 2023
2023-06-07-2134SAIF.jpg


9 June 2023
2023-06-09-2138SAIF.jpg
 
  • #269
Canon 6D II, 800mm f/l, Orion white light filter
Sun has been correctly reorientated E on the left and spots move across the solar disk from left to right

10 June 2023
2023-06-10-2142SAIF.jpg


11 June 2023
2023-06-11-2143SAIF.jpg


12 June 2023
2023-06-12-2148SAIF.jpg
 
  • #270
Continuing the catchup.
This post with start with the 13th June and continue from there.
13 - 18 June
As Always.....
Canon 6D II, 800mm f/l, Orion white light filter
Sun has been correctly reorientated E on the left and spots move across the solar disk from left to right

2023-06-13-2152SAIF.jpg


2023-06-14-2153SAIF.jpg


2023-06-15-2159SAIF.jpg
 

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