13 replies to this topic

[ppg677]

I don't plan on futzing with a camera this time around but I was thinking about taking a peek through my 80ED refractor with 23mm eyepiece.

Here is my plan-- I already made a solar filter and tested it and I have a Losmandy GM8 tracking mount

1) solar filter on scope
2) point mount north (no fine polar alignment)
3) find sun and make mount do solar tracking as best as possible.
4) TOTALITY-- start stopwatch.
5) enjoy totality by eye for the first minute.
6) one minute in, remove solar filter from 80ED. Enjoy telescope views for a minute...let a couple others take a peek.
7) with at least a minute before totality ends, point scope away from sun

Anyone else doing similar?

[PrestonE]

It is doable, though if it were me...

 

I would be using a 32mm eyepiece for a better field of view.

 

23mm eyepiece is barely 1.5 solar diameters on each side of the sun if centered.

 

The Corona should be visible out to 4-5 solar diameters visually and 8 if imaging.

 

We have a 52mm that would give about 4 solar diameters on each side.

 

Regards,

 

Preston

Edited by PrestonE, 06 April 2024 - 10:36 AM.

[ppg677]

I can't seem to find my 32mm eyepiece. My 23mm eyepiece is 2". I also have a little Celestron 70 travel scope (400mm focal length). I wonder if that is a better option...

[Cpk133]

Im planning to use 24mm 68 degree, gives nearly 3 degrees with a 80mm f7, hand held 10x50 and 7x35 for wide field.  The planet observer in me wants to use the binoviewer but that will cost me fov.

[Seacoast68]

Cpk133, a bino view of prominences and the inner corona would probably be awesome and unforgettable!  My eclipse chaser scope is a Tak FC-76 (600mm) on a alt/az tripod.  In 1998 (Antigua) I wasted 2 minute of totality snapping away with a Canon AE1 and film.  In 2017 (South Carolina) I switched to visual only (no camera at all) with a 35mm panoptic, and don't regret my decision.  My plan is to be all visual atop Sugarloaf Mountain in Maine on Monday for my 3rd eclipse - just need to safely carry my scope, eyepiece and tripod up the chairlift with skis on!  Clear skies. :-)

[brroberts]

I’m using an AT80EDT for white light and a Lunt 60Ha for before / after.  I’ll drop a TV Nagler 31 in the 80, ‘cause that’s what’s handy. They will ride on an AZMountPro. My backup besides binoculars is a cheap Celestron StarSense without the StarSense on an AZGTi. 

[Cpk133]

Cpk133, a bino view of prominences and the inner corona would probably be awesome and unforgettable!  My eclipse chaser scope is a Tak FC-76 (600mm) on a alt/az tripod.  In 1998 (Antigua) I wasted 2 minute of totality snapping away with a Canon AE1 and film.  In 2017 (South Carolina) I switched to visual only (no camera at all) with a 35mm panoptic, and don't regret my decision.  My plan is to be all visual atop Sugarloaf Mountain in Maine on Monday for my 3rd eclipse - just need to safely carry my scope, eyepiece and tripod up the chairlift with skis on!  Clear skies. :-)

I just got done watching about 3 hrs of youtube videos trying to get a feel for the right iso, exposure, f stop and to be honest, it’s adding way more stress than necessary.  I have a cannon rebel SL2 with a 300mm kit telephoto.  I think im just going to uncap about 1 min before totality, set auto bracket to +/-1 step, run wide open at f5.6 iso 200 on manual and just punch a bunch of pics around 1/500 to try and catch the diamond ring then sling off a few longer exposures.  I dont want to spend more than 1 min taking pics.  Just thinking about it stresses me out.  If it was me solo, I think bino’s all the way, but I’ll have family nearby and might want to avoid the fuss of adjusting them.  

[dcaponeii]

Just to be sure please make sure you're using a full aperture solar filter and not one of those eyepiece filters.  I'm guessing you all realize that but just in case a newbie reads this.

[Tinker]

Have a filter for my 66mm refractor. Should get some nice visuals of totality if the clouds don't ruin it.

[Rich_W]

I'll have a TV-76 with a white light filter, will mainly use a 32mm Plossl and will have a 24-8 zoom with me also.  I'll have filtered Canon 15x50 IS binos with me also. This is the same setup I used in 2017.  The views will be good if there's anything to be seen. 

[sanbai]

That combination is also mine!

I brought my 80mm f/7.5. I did not bring the eyepiece case where my Naglers 22 to 3.5 are, but I could not resist bringing the 22T4, so it went into the scope case. I think they are a good mstch and will be good to share views during totality. A Nagler 31 will be at hand, but a bit too intimidating and cumbersome for that specific moment. The only alternative I see could be the Ethos 17, but I won't be playing during that time.

The telescope will be mostly for the partial phase (with a 6, 4.7 or 3.5 Ethos?). For the totality, my plan is to have only a quick view with the refractor, binoculars, and a couple of basically automatized bursts with the camera for my memories.

It sounds already like too much. I want to relax, use mostly my eyes, and enjoy the moment with the kids!

[Matt78]

Bringing my 70 mm ED, no photography. I’m probably not even going to remove the filter during totality, since it will be taped on. We’re bringing two binos and a monocular, and we will make do. I think it’s gonna be a great setup. Simple, it’s given nice views of the sun under normal conditions, and everything but the mount fits in the handy Astro-Tech case it came with (after some work with a serrated knife on the foam). Cheers, clear skies!

[Classic8]

I'm using a 72mm refractor with white light filter. I plan on swinging the scope away in right ascension (it's on a wedge) and removing the filter, putting the lens cap on. During totality I'll swing it back on the sun using the sun finder, and take the lens cap off for a couple minutes. Will have a timer to warn me well before totality ends.

[Ohmless]

No pics will result but I'll be using a 76mm firstscope stopped down to 50mm aperture which will provide 4 degrees when used with a 12x 25mm plossl.