Telescope Reviews: I would like to thank this forum!!!!

I would like to thank all of you on this forum for all the pictures and drawings that you post. If it were not for your postings I would have never gotten an interest in solar observing. After seeing the pics, the next question is "can I see that?" Which lead me to research to see if solar observing is within range of my pocket book. Thats when I found out it was quite affordable.

As I have other hobbies that often cry for cash, it took another year before I actually got my very own PST. I was afraid to just get a PST because I was afraid the views wouldn't be as good. So I tried to purchase a new .5 ang PST/SM40 a few weeks back and found out there was a 6 - 8 month lead time. Well, cancel that

Then, thanks to a very generous offer from Stephen Ramsden on a second hand unit, I was able to get a complete setup;'PST, SM40, a nearly complete setup of Cemax eyepieces, including the barlow and some other handy neat accessories that saved me a ton of cash. Thank you again, Stephen! If everyone in this solar community is a generous and thoughtful as you are this is one special place!

I just want to say that I've just passed my second weekend of solar observing and loving it. I am indeed seeing with my own eyes everything that is being posted here.'

For those that may share the same worries as I had about the views not being good enough with just a PST, I say put that worry our of your mind. The views of the proms are just terrific!!! and the active regions are pretty discernable when they are there. So if all you can afford is the PST, don't be afraid to just get the PST. You will still love it! I'm doing most of my solar observing with just the PST. I'm only stacking the SM40 to look at the active regions more closely and for viewing filaments. The active regions seem to be petering out but there are still some cool filaments showing up, so I consider the SM40 to be a great accessory that you need to get if you can afford it.

Anyway, just wanted to say thanks to you all, and a public thank you to Stephen Ramsden for stepping in and making that offer. You'll see me promoting his website in my posts.

Best Regards to all,

Mike

Charlie Bates Solar Astronomy Project

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I guess I'm a looker, cause I'm looking in the ground, I'm looking in the night sky and I'm looking at the sun.

Orion XTi10 Reflector
Coronado PST/SM40/Coronado DSM
Fisher Metal Detectors

http://www.charliebates.org/