Solar Imaging: Quark versus Herschel Wedge

[@DavesAstrophotography]

Thanks Mark! Enjoy your time with the solar imaging....... speak to you again in the future no doubt!

[@RefreshingViews]

Thank you and safe travels!

[@OurAmazingSkies]

Great video on the solar viewing comparisons. There's a third option, solar film. I've been imaging sunspot activity with my little 5" mak + a televue x 3 barlow, using the Baader AstroSolar (OD 3.8) solar film which is safe for imaging.

[@RefreshingViews]

Good point, I am wondering whether to get some solar film for more affordable set up but I fear it is not as robust as the Herschel Wedge. Or project into a shoe box for group viewing?

[@neilbenison2512]

@@RefreshingViews I've got a 5inch (127mm) Mak as well and went down the solar film route, the Herschel Wedge is only recommended up to 100mm @1.25', wish could afford the quark though, I live in constant fear I'm going to put my finger through the film :D

[@michaelwalsh7846]

I had the 60mm coranado single stack a while ago and was disappointed that there was a sweet spot, instead of enjoying the image you would be always looking for the sweet spot, and the sun as you say would make you very hot as my head was underneath a towel to maximise contrast. Great video. Thanks from UK.

[@barryfitzgerald2249]

Super introduction to solar equipment Mark - thanks very much. Very good to see these things actually in action. Look forwards to the one on installing a motor focus or growing your arms an extra few inches.

[@RefreshingViews]

You and me both - I want one like yours with the remote control focus! And now the clouds have come in so I cannot compare with the Lunt. Hope you and family are keeping well in the meantime!

[@bobsastrophotography7812]

Thank y'all for your educational video on capturing the Sun....

[@RefreshingViews]

Cheers Bob, appreciated.

[@Astronomo_Space]

Nicely done! Watched it already 7 months ago, while I was doing my Solar acquisition and video, then nothing much else done! I am an on-off amateur astronomer... 👍 This video really gives an idea in what they are getting into, to whomever wants to start doing Solar viewing or imaging.

[@RefreshingViews]

Glad it was helpful! Can't wait for the sun to start climbing back into the sky from up here at 51N, particularly as activity is already increasing in the new solar cycle.

[@Astronomo_Space]

@@RefreshingViews Yep, me too... End of February for me... 54°

[@Astronurd]

A decent aperture solar scope is undoubtedly the best but comes at a price. I have just started my solar journey and found that a Hershel wedge in conjunction with a Baader solar continuum filter to be a good introduction.

[@RefreshingViews]

That sounds a good approach. As you say different setups with different budgets with differing results.

[@patpatterson6073]

you look like me with your head covered looking at the computer screen and reaching to get better focus on your scope! i like your idea of how you have a roll back top on your observatory. i think this is the way im going to build mine.

[@RefreshingViews]

Cheers, Pat! It's the only way to see the screen but it get's pretty hot in there on a summer's day. Yes, defo love the roll off roof observatory as you can still the sky (unlike a dome).

[@Daniel_DP83]

you can use the "Daystar Quark GEMINI" so you can watch both, but i cost around 2x the price.

[@RefreshingViews]

That sounds interesting - thanks.

[@christopheguigot841]

Sacré setup pour le solaire..!!!

[@RefreshingViews]

Merci Christophe.

[@walterlewis1029]

Hi Mark The Combo Quark Chromosphere Can be used on an SCT but you have to use an ERF.

[@RefreshingViews]

Thanks, Walter. I'll check it out.

[@MountainFisher]

I put a white filter film on my finder and put a hole through the white foam filled poster board it points through. I have the poster board on the front of my scope to keep my face out of the Sun. I have mine on my 102mm Astro Tech ED scope. I pretty much don't do solar viewing in the Summer here in the desert, toooo hot. Would need an eclipse to set it up now.

[@RefreshingViews]

Yeah I can imagine the desert is a tad warm at the moment. We are having a heat wave (please don't laugh) and it is high 20degC at the moment and I melt in my shed so I can imagine the desert is another experience. Clear skies to you!

[@MountainFisher]

@@RefreshingViews 68 degrees Fahrenheit is a heat wave? Where are you at in Iceland? I understand being in the Sun is considerably hotter than the shade where they measure the temperature, or supposed to measure it. There is a chart that tells you the temperature in direct sunlight and at lower temps like 68F it is more like 84 F and if you're on pavement add another few degrees to 90 and it is even worse if it is humid. As it gets hotter the direct sunlight temp starts jumping higher exponentially. I've been in 122 F or 50C in the shade is bad enough, but in direct sunlight it is closer to 170F or 78C. Utterly unbearable and in Death Valley they measured the temperature on pavement at 200 F or 94 C with the shade temperature at 126 F. Telling us it's a dry heat, it is 120 degrees! It is why the "heat island effect" of major cities are unreliable for measurements. They'll say a new record was set, but out in the countryside it was normal for the time of year. Miles of blacktop makes cities unbearable. I used to live in a rural area with Bortle 3 skies, but driving into the city was at least 20 degrees hotter. Had to bring ice chests for frozen foods or it would thaw out before we got home.

[@Astro_Gardener]

Great video Mark. My choice would be a Ha scope followed by the wedge and then the Quark. As i understand you need a power supply for the Quark.

[@RefreshingViews]

Good point, Peter. Which scope do you take on your eclipse trips?

[@Astro_Gardener]

@@RefreshingViews I take a William Optics 80 mm refactor with me and use a Seymour glass filter and attach camera to the scope. Using a Ha scope would be brilliant for eclipses but then dead weight for the rest of the trip like I did in 2017 in the USA. With a normal scope i can use it to view the sky were the eclipse track was.

[@colmbrazel]

Thanks great video. You need a good fan in obs with that heat. I might be mistaken but you appear to be using the Herschel Wedge in combo with Quark Chomosphere as part of the imaging train. Are the Baader 3.0 and 1.8 ND filters absolutely necessary to improve contrast and detail. Thanks again.

[@RefreshingViews]

Hi Colm, I set up the Herschel Wedge and then the Quark independently, one after the other. You defo need the ND filters for the HW (not the Quark) as the image is incredibly dazzling bright without them.

[@vijaygopal101]

That once-with-one-eye-and-then-the-other, that's was a really cool warning! They ought to have those printed out on telescopes! English wit at its best! Cheers! And clear skies!

[@RefreshingViews]

Cheers to you too Vijay!

[@christopheguigot841]

Superbe ta vidéo….nickel.merci

[@RefreshingViews]

Merci Christophe.

[@jwastroimaging2711]

Great video. I love my Quark, best Astro thing I've purchased. I use a mono camera, way better than colour. You can get quite low-cost refractors like the Startravel range for more FL. What's the benefit of a H-wedge over a budget white light solar filter? I do my solar imaging very slowly, stepping pedantically and carefully so as not to introduce any risks of getting a stray view of the sun!

[@RefreshingViews]

Glad you’re enjoying your quark. They seem to be so effective. I have one on my Christmas list and agree a mono camera is the way forward - using my one shot colour only ~1/3 of the pixels are doing anything! As for benefit of HW over solar film, the main advantage is the robustness. No need to check for pinholes or delamination before use.

[@jwastroimaging2711]

@@RefreshingViews I got myself a Startravel 120 for close up views. The L1 filter is as far up the OTA as I can get it. Not great for colour but mono is amazing. There is a combo Quark to use with SCTs but I believe you need a reduced aperture and an ERF upfront. ERFs are bewilderingly expensive. You'll not regret the Quark as we go to solar maximum in 2025.

[@RefreshingViews]

@@jwastroimaging2711 yeah it's defo on my wish list (plus a mono camera). Eek, when does it stop! Hope you're enjoying the views in the meantime.

[@peterwoolliams1283]

3rd option is CaK, which has plenty to see even when the sun is quite blank. You need a camera as your eyes can’t well see the near UV, so very safe as well.

[@RefreshingViews]

I have yet to try CaK - have you get such a set up?

[@peterwoolliams1283]

@@RefreshingViews yep, I prefer it to the white light and my 60mm single stacked halpha.

[@rjayt88]

Thanks for the video. I am relatively new to solar viewing. Do both the Quark and the Herschel wedge have a mirror reflects the majority of the light back out of the telescope? Also, would they both work with an old Televue NP 101 refractor?

[@RefreshingViews]

That’s right, they either pass through or reject the excess energy. Make sure you’re using the IR filter as well - respective product websites have the relevant info.

[@RefreshingViews]

And yes they’ll work with an NP101

[@rjayt88]

@@RefreshingViews I think I would feel more comfortable with the full aperture ERF filter at the front of the telescope, but they look quite expensive. I appreciate all of the information and the great video!

[@robi4514]

Very informative video Mark. I have yet to view the sun in Ha, but my local astro friend has a Quark so looking forward to having a squint through that - I suspect it could be an expensive experience! I have a 1.25” Herschel Wedge which I have previously used with my 66mm and single eyepiece at low powers, but recently I tried it with my newly acquired 102ED scope and bino-viewers at around 180x and was gobsmacked at the views, the sunspot and surface detail was spectacular. But no prominences. 🙂

[@RefreshingViews]

Lots of decisions to be made aren't there? Let me know how you get on with the Quark ....

[@andrewpitt9994]

Thanks Mark for this informative video. I'm looking at a Quark and had the impression a Lunt 60 would be an even better, albeit more expensive, option. From what I can gather from your video, you are looking at the quark as an upgrade to the Lunt, do I have this correct? I have an 80mm and 120mm F6 short scopes. Would you consider making another video comparing the Lunt and the Quark please? Thanks Andy

[@RefreshingViews]

Hi Andy yes I plan to review the 60mm Lunt in due course (once the grey skies clear again!). I must admit to being in a dilemma: the Lunt is 60mm whereas the Megrez90 + quark is 2x the aperture and far more portable than taking both telescopes. Decisions decisions .... a quark would be even better again in your 120mm - lots of interesting articles in the solar section on cloudy nights with similar set ups.

[@andrewpitt9994]

@@RefreshingViews Thanks Mark, that's helped me reach a decision. Enjoy your hols whatever you decide to take with you. : >

[@Scott.A62]

for the price of these units I think I would buy a dedicated solar scope. I really enjoyed the video.

[@RefreshingViews]

Thank you for your kind words, Scott. That's a fair shout although I like the idea of having only one refractor for night and day use.

[@Steve_The_Ignorant_Astronomer]

Good video , thanks. Just got myself a Quark about a month ago and having fun with it. Use it with my Explorer Scientific ED80 that is piggybacked on my Meade LX200 F6.3 scope and that sits on an EQ6r Pro... As for tax in the states its easy. Each state has its own sales tax so where I live in New Jersey is 7% . So the Quark cost me 1295.00 and then add 7% $90.65 so total price is 1385.65... My so lives in Delaware and they dont have a sales tax so lots of times I ship things to him and I just pay the price of the item.. Hope that helps

[@RefreshingViews]

Cheers Steve. Prices in UK already include tax so no mental arithmetic at the check out over here. How are you getting on with the Quark? We've been reading about the forest fires in US / Canada so hope all is well over there.

[@Steve_The_Ignorant_Astronomer]

@@RefreshingViews Was real bad one day , was like living on Mars , everything was orange

[@melgigg]

Having said you can’t use a reflector because you’ll fry the secondary why did you use a diagonal with the quark surely that’s getting the full heat of the sun concentrated on it and also for imaging it’s nots necessary and actually adds an optical surface ?

[@RefreshingViews]

That's a bloody good question! I think it is firstly because a diagonal is not glued to a support (unlike a secondary) as its casing is at 45 degrees and secondly because a refractor tends to be smaller than a Newtonian / SCT so less heating.

[@andrewpitt9994]

@@RefreshingViews quick one - I think many folks put the filter before the diagonal to avoid it overheating, which I believe can be a problem if the sun is very strong when you're observing. I'm no expert just sharing what I've read.

[@stadtchronistjennersdorf6351]

ATTENTION! You've mounted the filters in the BAADER Herschel Wedge incorrect - the Solar Continuum is the first (!) to the scope, NOT the last as you showed in the video, so the ND filter is the last one before the eyepiece on not vice versa, check the manual.

[@RefreshingViews]

Thanks - will check it out.