drs1969 (David Smith) 🇬🇧
Spectacular #Sunspots visible in this stacked picture of the Sun, taken from North Oxfordshire in the UK today. There are two very (very!) large sunspots visible in the lower third of the disk. Leftmost is 4296 and next to it is 4294. The ‘small one’ to the right is 4298 and that’s about the size of Earth. 4294 and 96 are getting some attention as they are very big and chucking out X flares.
#Astrophotography
Dec 3 at 2:50pmWeb
Show threadKevin FreitasDec 3

@drs1969 Fantastic! Hoping for a clearing here in Seattle to image but it’s not looking good.

Can I ask what you use to record/stack your solar photos? I usually just snap full frame photos, look for one with the best seeing, and don’t stack but am interested in more. Thx!

Show threaddrs1969 (David Smith) 🇬🇧Dec 3

@KevinFreitas good luck! Weather crap here as well. Got a lucky break for a few hrs today.

I use the SeestarS50. Which has relegated all my other kit to the cupboard under the stairs. And i have a lot of kit...

It does most things on the scope. You can access all the photos and do it yourself as well if you want. Previously I've used registax and used video files. Vlc to export all the frames, then stack 'em. I have made my own baader film filter for the Seestar.

Show threadKevin FreitasDec 3

@drs1969 It’ll stack the Solar images, too?

I have a Dwarf II but have been eyeing the S50 as an upgrade. The Dwarf is ok but think it’s long had a focus issue and seems the hardware is underpowered when shooting FITS files. Have had some decent results but may want a step up.

Show threaddrs1969 (David Smith) 🇬🇧Dec 3
@KevinFreitas yep set the video to RAW and off you go. That was 3 mins of video footage. Took 25 mins to stack on the scope. They've improved the scope so much in the last year. EQ mount setup option and now 4k drizzled photos by doing something clever with micromovements of the scope.
Show threadKevin FreitasDec 3

@drs1969 Just eeked one out this afternoon!

https://mastodon.social/@KevinFreitas/115658040629180517

Show threaddrs1969 (David Smith) 🇬🇧Dec 4

@KevinFreitas hey!

Now, can you help me? I click to open your picture and I have to log in to mastodon for some reason. And it wont accept the U/PW I set up for my account and client.

Any ideas? I get this every now and then and I can't figure out why.

Show threadKevin FreitasDec 6
@drs1969 Sorry I missed this. That’s super weird! I don’t have anything locked but you may want to try logging in on your own server then just using the search find me/my posts. You won’t be able to log in using a diff server but still weird.
Show threaddrs1969 (David Smith) 🇬🇧Dec 6
@KevinFreitas it's something to do with fact its a link I think mebbe? A real head scratcher. The only post from you that asks me to do it.
Show threadKevin FreitasDec 6
@drs1969 I got you covered. Just made a blog post you can have a look at: https://www.kevinfreitas.net/ Cheers!
KevinFreitas.net - kevin freitas seattle blog photos pics cheats projects seattle web developer

Seattle blogger Kevin Freitas blogs his commentary and photographs on Seattle, family, adventures and technology

Show threaddrs1969 (David Smith) 🇬🇧Dec 6
@KevinFreitas Nice one. Good pics of the Arch as well. 👌