Earlier this year I purchased a Coronado Personal Solar Telescope (PST) and was very impressed with what I could see with this entry level Solar Telescope, both visually and with a video astronomy camera (see my 1/16/2016, 1/17/2016 and 2/14/2016 blogs). In my 3/17/2016 blog I discuss the importance of using the Histogram function when viewing deep sky objects with the MallinCam SkyRaider cameras.
Today I decided to get my PST back out and try out using the Histogram function while viewing the Sun using my MallinCam AGc (color) video astronomy camera. Since we were camping, it also gave me a good chance to try out solar observing from inside the camper using Remote Video Astronomy. I did have to put forth the effort outside in the summer heat to get set up, but then it was really nice observing and trying out different Histogram settings while inside where it is cool and comfortable and easy to see the screen.
Today I decided to get my PST back out and try out using the Histogram function while viewing the Sun using my MallinCam AGc (color) video astronomy camera. Since we were camping, it also gave me a good chance to try out solar observing from inside the camper using Remote Video Astronomy. I did have to put forth the effort outside in the summer heat to get set up, but then it was really nice observing and trying out different Histogram settings while inside where it is cool and comfortable and easy to see the screen.
You can click on the following link to see a video clip showing the benefit of using the Histogram Function when viewing the Sun using video astronomy.
https://youtu.be/I9OfFGIe_EM
Description of the setup process
I set up my SkyProdigy mount with the PST on it next to the camper, performed a solar system align with the Sun using a Coronado eyepiece to visually center the Sun for the alignment and adjust the telescope focus. After I switched to Solar tracking, I added a Coronado Barlow to see more detail. Now I was ready to change over to video observing.
I removed the Coronado eyepiece and inserted the AGc camera, attached its USB cable and connected it to my laptop on a table next to the telescope. After turning on the laptop and starting MALLINCAMSKY, I selected the AGc camera and set the exposure to 20 ms with a gain of 1. The next step was the hardest one – focusing with the camera in place while outside in the bright sun! I have found placing a dark shirt over your head and laptop screen while adjusting the focus works really well.
Once focused, I disconnected the laptop and moved it inside. I ran an active USB extension cable from the camera to inside the camper through a port I added to the camper (see my 8/5/2015 blog). I placed my SkyFi module on the tripod tray, connected it to the serial port of the hand controller and turned the SkyFi module on (see Remote Telescope Control section in my 4/24/16 blog). Here is my outside setup.
https://youtu.be/I9OfFGIe_EM
Description of the setup process
I set up my SkyProdigy mount with the PST on it next to the camper, performed a solar system align with the Sun using a Coronado eyepiece to visually center the Sun for the alignment and adjust the telescope focus. After I switched to Solar tracking, I added a Coronado Barlow to see more detail. Now I was ready to change over to video observing.
I removed the Coronado eyepiece and inserted the AGc camera, attached its USB cable and connected it to my laptop on a table next to the telescope. After turning on the laptop and starting MALLINCAMSKY, I selected the AGc camera and set the exposure to 20 ms with a gain of 1. The next step was the hardest one – focusing with the camera in place while outside in the bright sun! I have found placing a dark shirt over your head and laptop screen while adjusting the focus works really well.
Once focused, I disconnected the laptop and moved it inside. I ran an active USB extension cable from the camera to inside the camper through a port I added to the camper (see my 8/5/2015 blog). I placed my SkyFi module on the tripod tray, connected it to the serial port of the hand controller and turned the SkyFi module on (see Remote Telescope Control section in my 4/24/16 blog). Here is my outside setup.
Results
I was then ready to view the Sun from inside and remotely control the telescope using SkySafari on my iPhone. I began with the exposure set to 20 ms and the Histogram (blue arrow below) at its full default values (0 & 250).
I then moved the upper limit (green arrow below) close to the right end of the red curve (red arrow) and the lower limit (blue arrow) somewhat near the left end of the red curve. This really brought out the surface detail of the Sun!
Next I tried the same technique to bring out the detail of prominences better. Earlier this year I found out that increasing the exposure diminishes the surface detail but enhances solar prominences so they can be seen. I clicked on the Default button (blue arrow below) in the Histogram and ran the exposure from 20ms up to 90ms so I could faintly see some prominences (yellow arrows).
I noticed the red curve was now near the left side of the histogram (red arrow below). I moved the upper limit (green arrow) near the right edge of the red curve. This really brought out the detail of the prominences!
I then clicked on the Default button (blue arrow below) in the Histogram like before and used SkySafari on my iPhone to position the telescope view to the lower right portion of the Sun and could see some prominences (yellow arrows).
Again I noticed the red curve was near the left edge of the histogram (red arrow below) and moved the upper limit (green arrow) near the right edge of the red curve. This brought out the detail of a spectacular prominence (yellow arrow)!
Conclusion
Based on these results, I definitely concluded that the real time Histogram function is very beneficial to observing the Sun with Video Astronomy!
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