Huge Sunspot Group with 4" APO Telescope - Baader Herschel Wedge / Prism Mini Review

[@samirpatel8585]

Great video Vlad, quick question how have you connected the camera to the wedge?

[@AVTAstro]

Yes any astro camera will work.

[@skywatcherca]

Wonderful video: thank you. Would you please indicate what video camera you are using - again, thank you Sir.

[@AVTAstro]

Thanks! Its the Svbony SV205: amzn.to/3w7MC1B

[@lornaz1975]

To me sunspots look like mold on the surface of the sun. Around the rest of the sun there seems like darker areas that also made me think of light mold on the sun. As for the sharpness of the Herschel wedge I agree. When viewing the annular eclipse it was sharp enough that I could see Bailey's beads.

[@AVTAstro]

Never thought o the mold analogy, and now idk if I'll be able to get it out of my head. LOL.

[@sjpp71]

Great video. I decided for solar filter (the Badder type) as I was afraid to expose the telescope (Evostar ED80) to the sheer brunt of the sun rays could eventually affect it in any way, like damaging the internal painting or baffles. What would be your take about it? Thanks.

[@AVTAstro]

Well honesty I have used my premium $5k APO's with this. I think your pretty safe.

[@sjpp71]

@@AVTAstro And the sunspots look really quite clear, sharp in your video capture. Awesome. My last attempts with white light have yielded soft images, I guess because of the seeing not being too good, Only once I was able to get a bit better detail of sunspots, even some granularity was visible, but man that was about 5 months ago. Another thing I noticed is the Baader continuum filter helped greatly to improve contrast. I think I'll give it a try eventually to one of these solar wedges, specially for what you mention about the sharper images than with a solar film. Again, thanks for sharing and clear skies!

[@stephenpalmer7281]

Nice video and very cool looking product. Not inexpensive, but much less than some prohibitively expensive h-alpha items I was checking. So you simply pop this in place of a diagonal, add your eyepiece and that’s all that is needed to start solar viewing? Thanks for posting this Vlad.

[@AVTAstro]

Yes, it's that simple. You do need to use a scope that is 8" and smaller and I'm pretty sure it's got to be a refractor(someone correct me if I'm wrong please).

[@stephenpalmer7281]

@@AVTAstro thanks! Will be picking one up. Great, I’ll be able to use it with my Televue 85 and Evostar 120.

[@AVTAstro]

Yeah that's an awsome pair of scopes to use it with👍

[@Astronurd]

Interesting video Vlad. I am considering dipping my toes into solar with my refractor and this wedge looks quite appealing to me. Clear skies

[@AVTAstro]

Yes its a great way to get into solar without going full H-Alpha!

[@avt_astro206]

Very Interesting Vlad! Some Huge Sunspots!

[@AVTAstro]

Thanks!

[@chrislundin2943]

Great video again. You always teach me something. My first solar filter (white light) is getting delivered tomorrow. I'm looking forward to seeing some of the solar action, that's happening recently. H-alpha isn't in the budget yet...

[@AVTAstro]

Yeah solar is not for everyone anyhow so a white light filter is a great way to try it out👍

[@opponoastos]

I'm gonna try to observe those sunspots tomorrow with my Orion 120ST.

[@AVTAstro]

Very cool, make sure to have the proper filter👍

[@opponoastos]

@@AVTAstro Yup. Got out an old solar white light that I've not been using for a while. Just took some images and posted them on my Flickr.

[@MountainFisher]

I used weld filters to allow kids to watch a solar eclipse, but they wouldn't allow much detail, an electric welding arc is much brighter than the Sun and would melt the one Ring to rule them all.😆 I was thinking of getting a solar filter for my 6" Newtonian, I presume they're pretty good?

[@AVTAstro]

I have actually used welding glass to observe the 2011(going from memory here) Venus(or was it Mercury) transit. This was my astro dark ages when I just got married and did not have much astro gear(if any)...

[@MountainFisher]

@@AVTAstro Have you ever tried that Sun filter plastic sheeting instead of those glass Sun filters? I've noticed my scope is 7.250 Outside Diameter and a glass one that size is pretty steep in price, if they have it at all.

[@AVTAstro]

If you reering to solar film then yes I have used it. It works about as well as glass but you do really need to inspect it before every use for tears and such.

[@baronty5549]

I have a question, not related to solar observing but just visual astronomy in general. So I have the svbony 80ed, is the difference between a 3-inch and 4-inch scope that big of a difference I can basically see the same things with the 80 that I could with a 100 right just a bit more detail from the 4 inch but otherwise the same right?

[@AVTAstro]

I would say that if you already own a 80mm stick with that. going up to 102mm really wont knock your socks off on anything compared to what you have. I'd look at a 6-8" SCT as the next logical step for both DSO and planets/moon.

[@baronty5549]

@@AVTAstro Awesome, thanks!

[@marting.2626]

Great video. Please keep in mind to always use filters behind (not in front of) the herschel wedge and rather not use a petzval or any refractor design with lenses close to the focal plane (temperature).

[@AVTAstro]

Yes those are very good points. 👍 I belive I have said it already but you also cannot use a scope larger then 8" as well.

[@moonmonkey9595]

Great video Vlad you have Mail 🙂🙂🔭🔭

[@AVTAstro]

Got the email and sent one your way. Thanks for reaching out!