[SJAAboard] update about our solar scope, Daystar T-Scanner

[Gary Mitchell]

Mark Wagner wrote:
> On Fri, May 30, 2008 12:55 am, Gary Mitchell wrote:
> 
> 
>>We would pay a whole lot more than that to get a Coronado
>>of similar aperture.  And I suppose it would have a
>>similar expected life span.
> 
> 
> I have not followed this very closely.  Contrary to a remark that I don't care about solar
> observing, while I rarely do it, I enjoy it when I do and know people who are very enthusiastic
> about it.
> 
> I have to ask, is this scope 16 being discussed?

Yep, that's the one.

   That appears to be the sole H-Alpha setup in the
> inventory according to:
> 
> http://www.sjaa.net/loaners/
> 
> If so, similar aperture is 60mm, and a 60mm Coronado is probably similar cost.  I also presume the
> Daystar is not a complete scope, is it?  It is a filter in front, a 60mm refractor (not part of
> the Daystar purchase), and the t-scanner in back. Right.

Right, the Daystar filter is the narrow-band tunable filter
in front of the eyepiece with an energy filter in front of
the objective.  It's supposed to be used on a f/30 scope.
So, we could move it to another scope with more aperture.
All we'd need to buy is a larger energy filter.  I think
that would be a good idea.  IMO, scope #16 produces an image
that could be brighter.  Energy filters are on the order of
$100.

>    The Coronado is complete, as is. 
> Different animal, when you look at what you get. I am not recommending the 60mm Coronado, just
> remarking about the comparison.   What would cost "a whole lot more" would be a 90mm Coronado,
> which is not similar aperture.  It is 1/3rd apreture more and represents a significant bump in
> performance.  Whether it is worth it, or appropriate for the SJAA, is a matter of opinion.

I've seen two types Coronado's, the smaller $500 ones and
a larger one... I think he said it's something like $2500.
The larger one produced a view very similar to our solar
scope #16.  So, around $2500 is what I'd call "a whole
lot more" than the $750 for fixing the T-Scanner.  And
you couldn't move the Coronado filter to another scope.

Gary