Preparing for the mercury transit - Philipp Salzgeber photography

Today I was making sure everything is in working order for Monday’s transit of Mercury across the sun.

I was able to fix the issue of the declination runaway motor of our club’s LXD-650 mount, and took some images using the 127mm refractor with a 1,4x teleconverter.

The sun 05-05-2016, Astro-Phsyics 127mm f/8, Nikon TC-14E II, Nikon D750, 1/4000s, Baader ND3.8 photographic solar film

The sun 05-05-2016, Astro-Phsyics 127mm f/8, Nikon TC-14E II, Nikon D750, 1/4000s, Baader ND3.8 photographic solar film, cropped

Simulated view of the mercury transit

To be able to use the teleconverter with the T2-connection ring, I had to shave off a bit of the Nikon lens mount, as the teleconverter only works with a limited number of lenses to make sure it’s protruding front lens element does not interfere with the rear element of the lens.

Modified T-Ring for using the Nikon TC-14E II teleconverter.

After more tests today I decided that I will use the QHY5-IIc camera for the mercury transit, the resolution is sooo much better.

Camera=QHY5LII, Date=06-05-2016, Start(UT)=144210.826, Mid(UT)=144255.851, End(UT)=144340.877, Duration=90.051s, Frames captured=1036, ROI=1280x960, FPS (avg.)=11, Shutter=0.100ms, Gain=441, WGreen=50, WBlue=100, WRed=100, Histogramm=83%

Camera=QHY5LII, Date=06-05-2016, Start(UT)=144210.826, Mid(UT)=144255.851, End(UT)=144340.877, Duration=90.051s, Frames captured=1036, ROI=1280×960, FPS (avg.)=11, Shutter=0.100ms, Gain=441, WGreen=50, WBlue=100, WRed=100, Histogramm=83%

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