19 replies to this topic

[volentj]

Hi,

 

I have a LS50THA  and I enjoy it but I am not blown away by the views.  Would a Day Star Quark Chromosphere provide better views and work the upgrade?

 

Would I require a blocking filter on and ES 80mm scope?

 

Thanks

[cptbobrfh]

The Quark would very much be worth the upgrade.

 

The blocking filter is built into the Quark from the factory.

 

On your ES 80mm scope it will work nicely. You can get full disc AND high resolution "zoomed-in" views using simple Plossl eyepieces.

 

Best,

     Bob

[George Bailey]

You WOULD need a UV/IR cut filter before the diagonal (if no diagonal  used, put as the first surface the sunlight hits after the objective lens.

I like the Baader 2" filter for this.

[MalVeauX]

Hi,

 

I have a LS50THA  and I enjoy it but I am not blown away by the views.  Would a Day Star Quark Chromosphere provide better views and work the upgrade?

 

Would I require a blocking filter on and ES 80mm scope?

 

Thanks

We are near peaking the solar minimum, so there's not a ton to see as it is. You may see a prominence here and there (best chances right now), but will rarely see a sunspot or even an active region, maybe a wee filament now and then. Still a lot more to see in HA than you'll see in white light though, nothing in white light. So keep that in mind. But as the minimum churns and cycle 25 really cranks up, you'll start seeing more activity and features daily.

 

If you really want to take your visual solar experience to a truly different level, a Quark will do it very well and for a lot cheaper than a dedicated 80mm instrument. Also, don't stop there. Get a binoviewer to go with it. That's where it really gets crazy.

 

Your 80mm refractor is great for a Quark, just put a UV/IR block filter on your diagonal. Good to go.

 

But seriously... Quark + Binoviewer.

 

That said, the 50mm Lunt is a nice scope. There's just so little activity right now that it can be hard to see much. The Quark will show better surface contrast. And the proms in a larger scope with binoviewers is truly amazing.

 

Very best,

[BYoesle]

In my opinion you should keep the LS50 for full disc views (double stack for even better contrast views). Getting a good quality Quark with decent contrast uniformity for full disc views/imaging appears sometimes to be a crap shoot, but it would be better suited for close up views with larger aperture.

 

Cycle 25 probably will be delayed and not "really crank up," and will likely be weaker than cycle 24, which had the lowest sun spot numbers in a century. Lets please not get people's hopes too high up - far better to be realistic:

 

http://solarcyclesci.../forecasts.html

 

Some predictions for cycle 26 are even weaker:

 

https://www.huffingt...b_11812282.html

 

http://iopscience.io...4-637X/795/1/46

 

 

So activity will be present and worth it, but will likely be delayed and not be anything like the past several cycles preceding or even matching cycle 24.

Edited by BYoesle, 15 November 2018 - 05:54 PM.

[volentj]

Thank you all for your advice.  I found that solar cycle chart very interesting.

[George Bailey]

Thank you all for your advice.  I found that solar cycle chart very interesting.

I find it very DEPRESSING, lol !

[MalVeauX]

Wow, tough crowd.

 

Even a small prominence or small sunspot, in HA, in a depressed solar cycle, with a big aperture is an amazing sight to behold. Even during such a minimum, there's plenty to really look at and study every day. And even a depressed cycle 25 will be amazing to see compared to right now during this minimum.

 

Maybe I'm simple. I actually really enjoy looking at a void-of-spots-proms solar disc's limb in high resolution just to see the spicules on the limb from that angle where they look like grass fields. It's just mind blowing. But maybe I'm easily amused.

 

Very best,

Edited by MalVeauX, 15 November 2018 - 09:33 PM.

[George9]

The diagram shows cycle 23 and 24 as not too different in peak, but in the eyepiece they were very different. In 23, the sun frequently looked like it was splitting open with bright flares cutting almost all the way across the surface. See old Coronado images from the early 2000s. I never saw anything like that in cycle 24. 

 

In the diagram, cycle 25 is a little lower than 24 (so perhaps not too much worse than this past one?), but 26 does look way low.

 

Low activity points to getting the Quark on a large refractor to enjoy the perimeter (spicules and proms). In high activity, a double-stacked front-mounted filter is amazing.

 

George

[Vince Tramazzo]

It's a good idea to check on the Sun every few days, even in white light. Active region #2727 popped up about a week ago. There's six or eight small Sunspots in a small group, near the center of the Solar disk.

You just never know.

 

Vince

[cptbobrfh]

Wow, tough crowd.

 

Even a small prominence or small sunspot, in HA, in a depressed solar cycle, with a big aperture is an amazing sight to behold. Even during such a minimum, there's plenty to really look at and study every day. And even a depressed cycle 25 will be amazing to see compared to right now during this minimum.

 

Maybe I'm simple. I actually really enjoy looking at a void-of-spots-proms solar disc's limb in high resolution just to see the spicules on the limb from that angle where they look like grass fields. It's just mind blowing. But maybe I'm easily amused.

 

Very best,

Hey,Marty-

 

I'm with you!! I must be simple, too( My wife would agree)!

 

I really,really enjoy all the "cool" stuff on the limb,as well,with my Quark and my 102mm and 120mm refractors,plus my binoviewers.

 

We need others to be more positive,like us,right Marty? 

 

During this time,we need to look at it as the cup is half full,not half empty.

 

Best,

 

Bob

Edited by cptbobrfh, 16 November 2018 - 10:45 AM.

[MalVeauX]

 

 

Best,

 

Bob

Hey Bob,

 

I consider this... we can all look at pin point stars and know it's colored, maybe a binary system, or more, and where it's at, with every other star that is visually observable. So how is it not completely mind blowing what we can see on our star, in high resolution no less? We get to look at a star in a way that most observers never can see and can only imagine. We get to see it. In high resolution no less!

 

If someone resolved a spicule or dinky prom or barely noticeable active region on any other star in existence, the internet would break. 

 

I absolutely can't wait to see what the maximum of cycle 25 brings. Any activity is better than no activity. I am constantly confused when I wonder why someone has insane solar equipment but doesn't put it to use and get excited about it when there's anything, literally anything to see, other than void or pin points. Let alone in several wavelengths! It's nuts if you really step back and truly consider what we get to experience, in real time, with a dynamic, close proximity star.

 

Even during the absolute minimum, I enjoy looking at complete spotless and prominenceless disc just watching the spicules near the limb blow around like wind. And remember, it's a star. The only star that we can see this activity on. Not just with theory or instruments, but with your own eyeballs.

 

If this is all I get to see, ever again, on our star, I can still do it every day. It's better than looking at pin point dots and just wondering if it's as interesting truly as what we can see on our own star:

 

 

 

Very best,

Edited by MalVeauX, 16 November 2018 - 05:10 PM.

[George9]

Look at some of the images from this page: http://www.astro-nut.com/sun.html. I hope to see that again someday. But I think we matched these in the most recent maximum. I cannot find the sun-splitting ones.

 

George

 

[cptbobrfh]

Hey Bob,

 

I consider this... we can all look at pin point stars and know it's colored, maybe a binary system, or more, and where it's at, with every other star that is visually observable. So how is it not completely mind blowing what we can see on our star, in high resolution no less? We get to look at a star in a way that most observers never can see and can only imagine. We get to see it. In high resolution no less!

 

If someone resolved a spicule or dinky prom or barely noticeable active region on any other star in existence, the internet would break. 

 

I absolutely can't wait to see what the maximum of cycle 25 brings. Any activity is better than no activity. I am constantly confused when I wonder why someone has insane solar equipment but doesn't put it to use and get excited about it when there's anything, literally anything to see, other than void or pin points. Let alone in several wavelengths! It's nuts if you really step back and truly consider what we get to experience, in real time, with a dynamic, close proximity star.

 

Even during the absolute minimum, I enjoy looking at complete spotless and prominenceless disc just watching the spicules near the limb blow around like wind. And remember, it's a star. The only star that we can see this activity on. Not just with theory or instruments, but with your own eyeballs.

 

If this is all I get to see, ever again, on our star, I can still do it every day. It's better than looking at pin point dots and just wondering if it's as interesting truly as what we can see on our own star:

 

 

 

Very best,

I wish everyone had your passion with the Sun. I think I come close(lol)!

 

I have done the nighttime observing for many years,and enjoyed it immensely. 

 

BUT,with that being said,when I attended NEAF for the first time in 2004 and was introduced to this wonderful part of astronomy,solar astronomy,I felt like a kid at Christmas: I wanted one of those solar "toys" right then and there! It is hard to put into words the feeling I had then(and still have) about viewing our Sun in H-alpha.

 

Your words on solar observing hit the nail on the head.

 

As my dad once told me years ago," You Go,Boy"!

 

Best,

 

Bob

[hopskipson]

"In my opinion you should keep the LS50 for full disc views (double stack for even better contrast views). Getting a good quality Quark with decent contrast uniformity for full disc views/imaging appears sometimes to be a crap shoot, but it would be better suited for close up views with larger aperture."

 

I agree you should keep the LS50 for the full disk views, but I disagree with the Quark being a crap shoot. I talked with the folks at Daystar and yes they agreed that they had problems in the beginning with the early Quarks.  I guess a lot of folks got burned but they assured me they tried to make it right and would stand behind their products if I should have a problem.  I waffled back and forth between small dedicated solar scope and the Quark that could be used with many larger refractors that I already owned.  Even with my limited experience, I'm very satisfied with my decision to buy the Quark because when the seeing permits the visual and photographic details are amazing.

 

P.S. Marty those high resolution animations ROCK!!

[BYoesle]

Cycle 25 probably will be delayed and not "really crank up," and will likely be weaker than cycle 24, which had the lowest sun spot numbers in a century. Lets please not get people's hopes too high up - far better to be realistic:...  So activity will be present and worth it, but will likely be delayed and not be anything like the past several cycles preceding or even matching cycle 24.

 

I didn't mean to offend anyone or their notions; just want to be as honest and accurate as possible.

 

And if you are happy with your Quark, I certainly am happy for you. I personally have not tried any Quark filters, but have owned a 1976 era and currently do own a DayStar PE filter systems which were/are both excellent.

 

But anyone who has been on this forum for long, Solar Chat, Stargazers Lounge, etc., one does find quite a bit of discussion of issues with Quark quality consistency. This should not be too surprising since it is an entry level filter system. Moreover, I have very reliable input from a quite experienced solar observer/vendor who related the following to me this past January:

 

This may be interesting for you.

 

With some help I obtained three Quarks which are noticeably better in uniformity
than most others. They are:

 

1. 0,38A with about PE unifomity (just a half step beyond the PE)
2. 0,25A with good SE unifomity (half way to the PE)

3. 0,2A with PE uniformity at about 90-95% of the aperture. And has a very high fidelity!

 

They all work best with telescopes F/10-12 with @F/43-50 at the etalon.
The view in the 0,38A is noticeably better than in any SS Lunt or Coronado telescope or front mounted
etalon I ever saw, except in the Coronado's SM90 Ser.#006 I owned many years ago.
The view in the 0,25A is more contrasty than in the 0,38A but not as uniform accross the FOV.
The reason is that PE nonunifomity of +/-0.05A is relatively larger for 0.25A FWHM than for
0,38A FWHM. Absolute nonuniformity is equal in both, but the relative to FWHM is very different.

 

The third Quark with 0,2A bandwidth has a better relative non-unifomity than 0,38A one(!) and
also has image as bight as the 0,38A one has and it has absolutely awesome contrast. Very near
as an average DS. But the double limb still visible. Such brightness allows binoviewing at
magnifications impossible with 0,25A Quark. I am very happy with this last Quark.

 

I saw only one more Quark with a barely acceptable (visually) non-uniformity. All other samples
which were in my hands were really junk. I am wondering how DayStar still can sell so many defective Quarks.

 

I do hope this has changed, but for now I will stand behind my statement that the Quark can be a uncertain proposition, until proven otherwise by other similarly experienced solar observers. Indeed, my recommendation these days is that one should always try before you buy any brand or type of filter, and make sure you have a no questions asked return ability.

 

Likewise I am very glad that a lot of relative newcomers to narrow band solar observing and imaging are blown away by the current and recent cycle 24 levels of solar activity. I am certainly not wanting to discourage anyone from pursuing solar observing or imaging, which can be more awe inspiring and beautiful than about any other astronomy available to the public, even with lower levels of activity. But this should not lead to hyperbole about what might lie ahead given the latest scientific research. This seemed especially relevant to the OP's question.

 

Most if not all of the solar forums seem to have become more about posting pretty pictures - not that I haven't taken a few pretty pictures myself ;-) But even in this regard most of the postings do not list the equipment or techniques used to capture the images so that they become instructional for others. These sites therefore seem to have become little more than a social media venue, with very little discussion of real solar science.

 

That's why I have injected this science into the discussion here, and the science is fascinating for those that care to explore it.

 

Do I wish that the sun was and will be more active? Of course I do - I can confidently state I have more blood, sweat, tears, and years invested in solar astronomy and equipment than most. But I do want people to know the reality of what likely will be the future levels of solar activity. Per mainstream solar scientists like Hathaway and others, the current solar minimum will be extended, and the next two cycles will quite likely be less active than the current cycle, which was the weakest in 100 years.

 

So it's just a matter of perspective. Regardless, as Marty states, any activity is better than none, so lets enjoy it, and go out to view and get some pretty pictures. 

Edited by BYoesle, 17 November 2018 - 01:48 PM.

[Scruffy-the-janitor]

I just made a topic about a reason why your LS doesn't really have that wow factor. Have you considered the temperature outside? I've found the colder it is the worse the views are.

 

https://www.cloudyni...ocking-filters/

[Tom4]

>Reference Scruffy-the-janitor post: One Lunt solar telescope owner told me that if the temperature dropped to 40 F, the blocking

filter tends to give "fuzzy" images. He suggested some sort of heating element for it.

 

>Ref BYoesle post: I sort of agree with quality of the DayStar low end solar filters. But The views are Much, Much Better than

white light views/images!!!!!!

I have used the Solar Scout from DayStar Filters and traded it for the new then Quark Duo. Do to "life and budget"

I sold it (Very, Very,Very reluctantly!      )

To Be fair though, here on the mid Atlantic cost high thin cloud are very prevalent. And with the western fires and

African desert dust that periodically come our way it is a challenge some times to get good 'seeing'.

 

>> I have ordered two DayStar Combo Quarks, Prom & Crom. But now I'm thinking I should have saved for a

Lunt 60mm or 80mm with a 12mm blocking filter. I have a Meade L85, 120mm refractor.

  I'd welcome comments and or suggestion.

 

Tom4

[Tom4]

P.S. MalVeauX,

 

 I could never get the sharpness that the images in your post here shows.

 

Tom4

 

(See my gallery)

[Tom4]

Well it is two years after my last post on this topic.

 I decided to keep the prom combo quark because by adjusting the gain 

on sharp cap capture software I could shift between surface activity and proms.

Also adjusting the 'tuning' the proms or surface activity can be favored. Not by much,

but enough to get slightly more detail of one or the other.

 Aside from power being needed the DayStar filters, I think I made the correct choice for me.

The price and versatility Of the Quark, epically the Combo Quark, to me makes for a good investment.

 I have ZWO cameras and have recently downloaded the ZWO imaging Suite and find it more to my

liking for not only solar but also for night time imaging.