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No, I am not George Ellery Hale, but I was bullied into leaving CloudyNights by the CN staff for Hale's own crimes against humanity. Well only CN member's limited human rights, actually, but you get the point.
Did you know that every word and image you commit to CN becomes their property? You have no further rights once you hit the Post button. I didn't know this until I was told I couldn't expect my own creativity and contributions to CN to be removed.
Did you know that every word and image you commit to CN becomes their property? You have no further rights once you hit the Post button. I didn't know this until I was told I couldn't expect my own creativity and contributions to CN to be removed.
My supposed crime [against CN] was mentioning "home made" or "modified" solar telescopes in a response to another member's query. Though I did add the explicit warning that CN did not condone such discussion. This warning was then thrown back into my own teeth as if it confirmed my own guilt. I have never read the CN rules and do not even know how, or where, to find them.
My own feeling is that "home made" solar instruments can, when correctly built, safely provide very high quality images of solar activity. More importantly they bring Hydrogen alpha imagery to the non-wealthy amateur without needing to take out a second mortgage. Though it is not without some cost for the vital parts. Some skill at building telescopes is also assumed. There are experts who will construct such a telescope for you in 4"-6" aperture. It will not be cheap but you certainly won't need a second mortgage.
Information for building solar telescopes is readily available online. Many blogs, websites and [at least] two popular forums discuss the subject in minute detail. They relish building "alternative" solar telescopes. Particularly in larger sizes. Affordable "alternatives" to the very costly commercial offerings. Anyone can check the prices online but expect to shell out $5k for anything approaching 4" or 100mm for a commercial offering. If you have to ask the price of larger apertures then you probably can't afford them.
Yet manufacturers of the highest quality and world wide reputation offer suitable solar filters for safely constructing these larger instruments.. These are vital for reducing the extremely dangerous levels of heat, IR and UV from The Sun's focused image. Search for Baader D-ERF to get a taste for likely costs. Then add a secondhand refractor to do the heavy lifting. 4-6" apertures are popular with amateur builders. An f/10 focal ratio is best if you intend to use a PST or its [internal] donor parts.
You'll need the [secondhand] PST to do the H-alpha magic. H-a is a deep red which the eye can still see clearly but provides unique views of the Sun's surface texture and prominence in breathtaking detail. A suitable camera or cheap webcam will capture most of that detail. The PST's internal prism is a known alignment problems.
As is the clouding of the PST's objective and internal filters. They fixed the objective coating problem early on but the internal filters are well known for clouding over. Fortunately the vital H-alpha etalon seems free of serious problems. Though, even here, quality varies widely.
You could, like me, buy a secondhand PST only to find it needed further expense to replace the damaged filter. In fact the same filter is such a well known problem that at least two independent companies manufacture direct replacements! The problem is getting the PST components apart. They were clumsily thread locked by the unskilled labour when manufacture was farmed out to developing countries by the US label.
You'll need the [secondhand] PST to do the H-alpha magic. H-a is a deep red which the eye can still see clearly but provides unique views of the Sun's surface texture and prominence in breathtaking detail. A suitable camera or cheap webcam will capture most of that detail. The PST's internal prism is a known alignment problems.
As is the clouding of the PST's objective and internal filters. They fixed the objective coating problem early on but the internal filters are well known for clouding over. Fortunately the vital H-alpha etalon seems free of serious problems. Though, even here, quality varies widely.
You could, like me, buy a secondhand PST only to find it needed further expense to replace the damaged filter. In fact the same filter is such a well known problem that at least two independent companies manufacture direct replacements! The problem is getting the PST components apart. They were clumsily thread locked by the unskilled labour when manufacture was farmed out to developing countries by the US
CN's denial of information on building solar instruments is futile and utterly pointless in the Internet Age. To me, this smacks of protection of the foolishly costly commercial telescopes. Many of which are smaller than popular spotting telescopes yet cost thousands of dollars, Euros or pounds.
Some of these same, costly instruments have severe internal foibles requiring replacement of their own vital components for adequate safety or function. Or their internal filters cloud over, Making observation impossible without their removal and replacement. At huge, further cost!
Some of these same, costly instruments have severe internal foibles requiring replacement of their own vital components for adequate safety or function. Or their internal filters cloud over, Making observation impossible without their removal and replacement. At huge, further cost!
CloudyNights does not allow any public discussion of the subject of DIY solar. They even suggested I alter my own blog to remove all mention of my solar telescope building! I found this demand completely unacceptable in a free society. The threat was then made that my wide ranging, telescope making blog signature would be removed. And subsequently was when I refused to subordinate to their demands.
If I refused to comply I could even have my right to post on CN completely blocked. Ironic considering my 61 page thread on my observatory build breaks all previous records. Perhaps my thread was hampering sales of APOs? [Apochromatic telescopes.] Over which so many members seem to drool like babies. Even when these same Apos are too small to be safely drooled over except by very early astronomical pioneers. [Like Galileo!] They are often a bit like commercial solar telescopes in stature but still greatly admired. Check the numbers of viewings of threads and posts on CN if you don't believe me. The more it costs the more views a subject gets.
If I refused to comply I could even have my right to post on CN completely blocked. Ironic considering my 61 page thread on my observatory build breaks all previous records. Perhaps my thread was hampering sales of APOs? [Apochromatic telescopes.] Over which so many members seem to drool like babies. Even when these same Apos are too small to be safely drooled over except by very early astronomical pioneers. [Like Galileo!] They are often a bit like commercial solar telescopes in stature but still greatly admired. Check the numbers of viewings of threads and posts on CN if you don't believe me. The more it costs the more views a subject gets.
No doubt those who openly discuss solar telescope building [elsewhere] and H-a in particular must wonder as to the real reason for CN's reluctance to discuss this subject. The CN emphasis is on safety.
Information provides safety in the absence of ignorance. We are not subject to the arbitrary rules of multibillionaire Chinese [or Russian] despots. At least, not yet. Nor are we still subject to the whims of an utterly corrupt pope and their Inquisition sociopaths. Perhaps CN should revert to the use of Latin to ensure they maintain full control via their own, constantly genuflecting, Thought Police?
Information provides safety in the absence of ignorance. We are not subject to the arbitrary rules of multibillionaire Chinese [or Russian] despots. At least, not yet. Nor are we still subject to the whims of an utterly corrupt pope and their Inquisition sociopaths. Perhaps CN should revert to the use of Latin to ensure they maintain full control via their own, constantly genuflecting, Thought Police?
The very small risk of injury or blindness due to incorrect construction of specialist instruments must surely pale into absolute insignificance in comparison with many other risks? Any child could so easily turn their plastic, "ant burning" magnifying glass upwards with catastrophic results.
Any telescope exposed to sunlight is a solar magnet for the unwary. Even the humble "finder" telescope is a huge risk when the telescope is pointing at The Sun. How many of those who use a CN-approved solar filter in front of the main telescope remember to remove their carefully adjusted finder? Or fail to cap it securely when left in place to avoid realignment?
Don't even get me started on the dangers of Herschel prisms. Which often release completely unfiltered, focused solar beam from their exquisitely expensive, jewel-like bums! Often down at the perfect eye level for any passing child or toddler! Safety? What absolute crap! But you can still brag about your latest [expensive] acquisition on fully safety conscious, CN!
Don't even get me started on the dangers of Herschel prisms. Which often release completely unfiltered, focused solar beam from their exquisitely expensive, jewel-like bums! Often down at the perfect eye level for any passing child or toddler! Safety? What absolute crap! But you can still brag about your latest [expensive] acquisition on fully safety conscious, CN!
CloudyNights is a form of online club. As such, it can make up any rules it pleases. Though only for those who choose to be members. Even down to their making rules which ensure absolute ignorance of an increasingly popular branch of solar observation and imaging. One usually reserved for the wealthy in any size over a couple of inches aperture.
Unless, that is, the would-be solar observer chooses to ignore CN's total ban on the subject. To search elsewhere for information and build their own safe, high quality, large aperture, solar H-a telescopes. Again using widely available information online and the highest quality parts and filters. It's a well worn path by now and it's not as if you'll be tagged by the NSA for Googling "bomb making instructions."
Unless, that is, the would-be solar observer chooses to ignore CN's total ban on the subject. To search elsewhere for information and build their own safe, high quality, large aperture, solar H-a telescopes. Again using widely available information online and the highest quality parts and filters. It's a well worn path by now and it's not as if you'll be tagged by the NSA for Googling "bomb making instructions."
Is it not hypocritical to allow discussion of commercial, solar "Herschel" prisms and full aperture filters? Both of which could either fall off if badly adjusted. Or even be blown off the telescope by the wind?
Just, for God's sake, don't ever mention "spectrohelioscopes" on CN! Or your cosy, CN world will coming crashing down around your ears! As you wait in terror for the Men in Black Suits to come for you in the middle of the night. But only on Cloudy Nights, of course. 😉
Just, for God's sake, don't ever mention "spectrohelioscopes" on CN! Or your cosy, CN world will coming crashing down around your ears! As you wait in terror for the Men in Black Suits to come for you in the middle of the night. But only on Cloudy Nights, of course. 😉
National Park Service: Astronomy and Astrophysics (Hale Solar Laboratory)
It hardly seems worth mentioning but I am now banned from CloudyNights forums.
Just remember not to mention Herschel solar wedge prisms in front of the children and you should be okay.
It hardly seems worth mentioning but I am now banned from CloudyNights forums.
Just remember not to mention Herschel solar wedge prisms in front of the children and you should be okay.
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1 comment:
You’re funny.
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