Sun today Solarmax and DMK

[mattwastell]

Hi all
I had another 2 hour session with my Solarmax 40 and DMK21 camera.
Conditions were much better than my other sessions - very little cloud!
I noticed that I have significant dust donuts on my images - the dust is on the front glass of my solarnax 40 - I did not want to do anything to it as it would not blow or gently brush away - any tips in cleaning would be appreciated.
There is a fair bit happening on the Sun lately - sunspots and filements. I targeted these and was quite pleased with my first attempts at such objects with this set up.
Prime focus, exp 1/909, gamma 83, gain 260 roughly 130/500 images, tweaked in Registax 4.
I am on leave for 2 weeks now and hope to image the Sun and Moon heaps - will post any decent results.
Hope you enjoy.
Matt

[Radar]

Wow Matt, they are indeed smooth. I hope my first attempt at the sun through my imaging source camera is half as good as that.

With cleaning the lens, some form of suction can be effective for this type of thing. Use a drinking straw or something else. Make sure it's always an inward breath rather than an outward one.

If that fails, maybe buy a soft cleaning brush from a reputable optical store.

Ray

[mattwastell]

Thanks Ray for your response. The equipment I use does most of the work, I turn a knob or two! I am sure you will have heaps of great images of the Sun with the imaging source camera.

I have a feeling gentle brushing will not do the job - I have sent out my issue and am sure I will get lots of advice.

Thanks again.
Matt

[Mick]

Nice even with the donuts, the cropped image is sweet Matt. Haven't managed a look with the PST to much work.

[mattwastell]

the donuts were caused by dust on the imaging chip (or on the glass in front of it) a little jungle juice did the job with excellent results.
i will post my solar images later.
thanks
matt

[Tenacious Del]

the donuts were caused by dust on the imaging chip (or on the glass in front of it) a little jungle juice did the job with excellent results.


how did you get them off? what is jungle juice?:confused:

[mattwastell]

Hi
Jungle Juice is a optics cleaning fluid that is made by Don at Bintel.
I sprayed some onto a cotton bud and swept the glass above the chip clean.
I know there is lots of conjecture about cleaning optics etc / or how to clean them etc but Don id good!
It worked a treat and my new images are donut free!
Let me know if you want to know the recipe and I will find out.
Thanks
Matt

[Radar]

Don id good!


lol, very clever. :biggrin:

[Rumples Riot]

Nice images despite the dust motes. I think though that this not on the front of the scope and more likely on you camera, or somewhere very near the focal plain. I have lots of dust on my solarmx 60 front plate and I get nothing like this. It could also be on the barlow too or filter on the camera if you are using a filter.

Nice work all the same.

As for cleaning, I have not touched mine and I would be inclined to use alcohol to clean the surface and then an un-scented tissue to wipe dry and remove smears with.

[mattwastell]

Hi Paul

The dust was on the glass in front of the imaging chip. All clean now and the next batch of images have been donut free!

Have you been solar imaging lately? - the second sunspot of Solar Cycle 24 has just emerged over the last few days. Small but significant.

See ya

[Rumples Riot]

No images yet. Like you said I have to sleep some time.:smile: I am keeping an eye on SOHO and will image if the spot develops into something more subtantial.