The Solar Telescope That Started It All

[@Astrolavista]

A copyright claim has been filed on music I've already paid for again :( This issue keeps recurring and it's frustrating to resolve. KZbin offers the option to replace tracks with music from their free library, which is helpful, but it disrupts the video (It cut me off speaking then ended abruptly, plus it's loud!). I apologize for the loud music at the end; unfortunately, there's no way to adjust the volume when replacing a track.

[@AmatureAstronomer]

Neat looking little gizmo.

[@KevinRudd-w8s]

Nice intro into solar observing. I've got a Lunt LS50 THa, had it for nine years. I prefer solar observing and imaging to Lunar and planetary because of the dynamic nature of the sun, it constantly changes and has been pretty awesome of late. I know the planets are dynamic too but I don't have a telescope with sufficient FL to see them at their best. I usually use a Star Adventurer mount with my LS50 which I find perfectly adequate for solar observing or imaging. I also have an Altair Herschel wedge which I use with my William Optics 81GT for white light observing and imaging. I've used Baader solar film in the past and even used a ípair of 8x30 binoculars to project an image during the transit of Venus back in 2004, I was at work at the time so could only view it during break periods.

[@Astrolavista]

Sooo, does anyone else's mind wonder to Solar during the summer months?

[@Pipiland.]

The sun activity as been pretty strong this couple of weeks.

[@MrSeedi76]

Definitely. Must be one of the most interesting objects in the sky. And since it's so big, it's probably super impressive even at 20 to 25 magnification. Instead of buying astrophotography equipment which I barely used, I should have gotten a solar scope.

[@Astrolavista]

@@MrSeedi76 Once you've added a solar scope things can get a bit bipolar in that it's all about solar during the summer months, then the reverse in autumn when it's all about deep sky and planetary imaging.

[@ziggyfrnds]

I've looked through one of these, the view is mesmerizing. Thanks for sharing mate!

[@Astrolavista]

Hey mate! I'm fortunate to be able to share, and more to come 🌞😎

[@stuartbolden2142]

Hi Chris , I too am interested in this scope ... Really like the idea of pairing it up with a solar wedge . Glad you are showcasing it mate . Your reviews are ALWAYS a good watch .

[@Astrolavista]

Thanks Stuart! I appreciate you saying that mate, and a side by side Ha and white light setup would be amazing! : )

[@robinwoodbury2563]

Brilliant video, so well done! I just purchased a double-stack version of this device used, and can't wait to mount it up. I appreciate you going over the history of the PST, and the various tips you mentioned like the quirky back-focus issue with cameras and such. Thanks!

[@Astrolavista]

Thanks Robin, and big congratulations on the double stack!

[@Astro_Ape]

Just got my first H-alpha scope (Lunt LS50THa) about a month ago and I'm loving it! I've been doing WL solar observing over the last year using a Lunt 2" Herschel wedge in 70mm f/6, 102mm f/7, & 125mm f/7.8 refractors. Adding hydrogen-alpha to that with this little 50mm f/7 Hα scope has been awesome, especially with solar maximum ramping up. If anyone has been entertaining the idea of giving H-alpha a try, now is the perfect time to jump in!!

[@Astrolavista]

Seconded :)

[@dienachtwache]

I turned a 50mm B600 Lunt into a 102mm. To do this, I just unscrewed the Etalon with the blocking filter, shortened the telescope a bit, and attached it to a larger device with a 110mm ERF in front. double stacking was also possible, a friend of mine have it tried, with a daystar quark instead of the blocking filter.

[@Astrolavista]

Awesome! that's a nice mod mate. I would like to try a Quark at some point, and drill in for some closer details 😎

[@VaguelyAmused]

Really good summary of the PST. I've been using mine again recently both visual and with a little mono camera (Basler aca1920-40 and 2.5x powermate) with some good results. I have a Touptek G3M678M on the way which I am hoping to be a good fit for the PST, it should get the full disc in the frame and pixel resolution is almost a perfect match, maybe 10% oversampling. The only reason I went with the Touptek though is I had no idea the front of the ZWO could be unscrewed to get closer focus (not sure the ZWO 678MM can do that though). I would only add one thought : not sure if you are using a colour camera or not, but you loose resolution and sensitivity when using a colour camera vs mono : it is such a thin wavelength of "red" through the scope, so the green and blue filtered pixels on a colour camera aren't really doing anything (on a standard Bayer mask colour sensor, only 25% of the pixels are collecting photons when imaging Ha solar). Also, I've had mine years now and totally didn't know about rotating the collar for tuning, I will have to try that next time I use it, thanks!

[@Astrolavista]

Thanks! The low profile adapter is listed as working with the ZWO ASI120, ASI224, ASI662, ASI178, ASI462 and ASI385 at present, but the 678mm might also work. I note they are all 12.5mm back focus cameras and the ZWO cameras that are not compatible tend to have 17.5mm back focus, such as my ASI585mc. Both my cameras are OSC ( ASI462mc and ASI585mc) so far from ideal for Solar as you rightly point out. I think you'll have a nice surprise when you tune to different features using the tuning ring :)

[@VaguelyAmused]

I found the adapter on FLO's website and have checked with them, unfortunately the front of the 678MM doesn't unscrew like the 462 or 585 so the adapter is not compatible. Hopefully the Touptek turns up. Of course, now I know about the tuning ring its due to be cloudy for a while! Can't wait to try that out though. Thanks again

[@VaguelyAmused]

@@Astrolavista Small update the ToupTek arrived and from the time with it so far I am quite impressed. I had a little go at a time lapse over 3 hours the other day. I have lots to learn on proper processing but quite happy with it for a first go. I uploaded it if you fancied a look. Also had a go with the tuning ring, quite a dramatic difference thank you again for covering that in your video! kzbin.info/www/bejne/nXa9eoWCn7psrKc

[@VaguelyAmused]

Small update the ToupTek arrived and I am really impressed with it with the Coronado I have to say. Seems like a really good match. I've uploaded an ISS transit and 6 hour time-lapse if you are interested. PS: The tuning ring really does make a dramatic difference for either really high contrast sun spots or good surface/prominence detail thanks again.

[@Tony-Elliott]

Hi Chris great video again mate, good to see the suns getting a lot of attention at the min

[@Astrolavista]

Thanks Tony! Solar maximum is a real treat! I remember doing white light solar a few years back and the Sun was a perfectly blank disc. No such trouble at the moment, there's new features appearing all the time. Oh, and lets not forget that incredible aurora we witnessed recently. I'll never forget that thanks to the Suns activity.

[@gordsimpson8916]

I have one of these scopes. had it since it came out late 90's. I had to send it back to get recoated when Meade took over. It was done under warranty. Have back out as solar max approaches.

[@Astrolavista]

Hi Gord, that's an impressive amount of time to own a PST, you must be one of the first to do so :) I remember reading about the Rusted lens issue which affected early models. I'm guessing this might be the reason for re-coating. Clear skies!

[@ronm6585]

Cool device. Thanks Chris.

[@Astrolavista]

Thanks Ron :-)

[@SuperScottCrawford]

I was hoping you would do some video. Thanks!

[@dumpydalekobservatory]

Ah the PST's I had three & a Lunt 35 which my other half seems to have claimed lol, I gave one of the PST's away not that there was anything wrong with it just to get rid of some stuff as I used to do mainly solar outreach until covid came along then other health issues so haven't done any for 5 years now. One of the PST's I have does have a double stack that I can fit to it although most of the time I generally don't bother using it, the other PST is a CaK version which as you know is useless for visual but it still images pretty well. The best solar scope I looked through was a Lunt 102 which made the PST's look like a toy in comparison even though at the time the sun wasn't very active back then the detail it was showing was insane. I have often thought about getting a PST mod scope built but that's still going to cost a lot of ££££££££££'s but I did look through an 80MM PST mod at one of the stargazing lounges star parties (ah how I miss those) Clear skies

[@Astrolavista]

Wow Tich! you gave a PST away! that's incredibly generous of you mate : ) I don't think I've known anyone to own so many PST's at once, although they all clearly have a role with your past outreach. I hope you're getting the chance to check out some of the Solar max activity at the moment mate! I very much dare not look through a seriously big solar scope as I'll end up lusting after one lol Take it easy matey

[@dumpydalekobservatory]

I gave away more than that; a skywatcher ED80, Celestron AVX mount, various DSLR's, Vixen 80mm refractor, QHY5LII camera & various bits & bobs. I've still got a box full of Solar glasses to hand out so really need to get my act together. Sadly I haven't had much of a chance to look through the solar scopes much at the moment but hoping to get some more solar done soon as I'm revamping the observatory

[@icecorebaby]

Love the video man. I just got a used Coronado solarmax 40. What tracking tripod do you recommend? I rather have the sun in view at all times instead of playing around trying to keep it centered.

[@Astrolavista]

Thanks dude! Have you checked out the Solarquest mount. It's probably what I'd pick if I wasn't just bodging the PST onto an heavy EQ5 mount: www.firstlightoptics.com/skywatcher-mounts/sky-watcher-solarquest-solar-tracking-mount/ref/astrolavista/

[@holtneil]

Have you tried the 60mm daystar same price range amazing views would be nice if you could compare them

[@ashleytoms8567]

realy interesting thanks

[@Astrolavista]

Thanks Ashley! Glad you liked it and clear skies!