Amanda Tapping reminds me of 'Emma Peel' - the character, not the name of the actress who played her - Dianna Rigg - on the original series 'The Avengers' in the 1960's. That, along with 'The Prisoner' with Patrick McGoohan, were my favorite TV-shows back-in-the-day. Always the 'cerebral thinker' I. Anywho - Emma Peel always wore skin-tight rubber/leather clothing(?) in her character. I think that did it!

Interesting theory on the Synta-source as possibly being Yuyao Qihang Optical Instrument Co., Ltd. Such is why I usually dive into the literature looking for the transmission-data on filters in my research of these Pieces-O'-Glass <Koff! - Still thinking of 'Emma Peel'...> (Now someone is going to beat me up! )

I wish I could afford the gear needed to pop a filter into a bracket and pull-up it's spectrum. Best I can do is play with my diffraction-grating spectroscopy gear. Ah well - better than zip!

Still snowing here in Podunk. But it's all going to melt on Sunday. Then begin 'The Floods!'

Great Tap-Dancing Czars!

Dave Rasputin

 

The Prisoner, filmed in Portmeirion, Gwynedd, is one of my favourite sci fi shows. It’s re-run a lot here. It really was a classic. Apparently McGoohan only originally wanted seven episodes but Lou Grade convinced him that it needed more. Although I think Grade also prematurely pulled the plug on it eventually. I like your picture of the Lotus 7 from the opening credits. The 7 was originally a kit car and I think it’s still sold by Caterham Cars in the UK. ‘Emma Peel’ replaced Honour Blackman’s character in The Avengers I believe. I don’t think they had named Diana Rigg’s character originally but gave her the working title of ‘Man Appeal’ or ‘M’ Appeal as a kind of in-joke. Hence the name: Emma Peel.



It’s interesting that the Yuyao Qihang Optical Instrument Company is geographically near to Ningbo, home of Ningbo Sunny Electronic Co., Ltd, which now owns Meade Instruments. I can’t say with any certainty that the Solomark and Sky-Watcher filters all originate from the same manufacturer but it would seem logical. I’m looking at the Solomark Crystalview Moon Filter and Light Pollution Filters now. They also may make quite decent ersatz nebulae filters for small apertures. The Solomark UHC won’t be available on Amazon until the 17th, although I’m not so interested in that. It would probably be too aggressive for apertures under around 5“ anyway.

 

I was just examing the coatings on some filters and then on an Orion 'Shorty' 2X Barlow. They were the same-appearing on Skywatcher and on many others as well. Which suggests a common point-of-origin. No surprise there - at least not to me.

If you say this origin is probably Yuyao Qihang - sounds likely to me. I do believe some research is called for. I'd love a virtual-tour of their facilities! Whomsoever must have some mighty advanced equipment and techniques. Once again - I smell a case of the 'Mighty West' selling the Chinese off as inferior manufacturers - thereby setting themselves up for a parachute-jump.....WITHOUT their parachute (Made in China, no doubt.)!

So now I'm very intrigued by these Solomark-Filters- you rat!

The last time The Prisoner aired down in Boston, I got my 'surrogate-son' watching it - from episode 1 on. In the meantime, I was busily destroying a radio-station in Boston that had sponsored a blatantly racist event that had resulted in the local Asian-American community scared out of their wits - as they were the targets of this hate-crime of an event. And my kid observed me in action on this (he was dating a wonderful young lady from Beijing who was a fellow scientist at his place of work - they later married). I utterly destroyed that radio-station and had them knocked off the air for good. As the all-important last episode of The Prisoner was scheduled for the coming night, and we were gathered in front of the boob-tube, the idiot TV-station suddenly pulled it and replaced it with a one-hour commercial for "How To Lose 500 Pounds of Ugly Belly-Fat Overnight!" My son was livid!

My livid kid took my technique I used to blow-up the radio-jerks and began deploying it against this TV-station. It was then MY turn to be livid! While I understood his feelings of rage over not getting to see how 'Number 6' made his way out of that loony-bin 'Village,' destroying the station was a bit over-the-top as regards a suitable punishment! Not to mention frivolously displaying the techniques employed by top-tier activists to a bunch of dopes! Junior got a lecture from me that had smoke belching out of his ears for a week.....

So please keep me informed on your findings with the 'Solo,' weather permitting. It's finished snowing here (and headed your way! ) and the temperature is rising. So here comes a nice flood.

Splish-Splash,

Dave

 

I had a good 90 minute session with the Solomark Moon & Skygeek Filter earlier. With the 90mm Omegon through an open window again. I didn't expect the weather to hold to be honest so I didn't think setting up outside would be worth it. I used the Meade 26mm Plossl again and an 18mm BCO (55.5x, 1.6mm exit pupil).



The Solomark did better than I expected again and reminded me a bit of using an ortho' combined with a Wratten #82A. I could see a fair bit of detail around the Sea of Nectar. I think it works quite well as a contrast filter although it is noticeably more aggressive than the Baader Neodymium, yet not as aggressive as an #80A on a 90mm, f/11 Mak.



Terminator shadows were quite well defined and I could make out detail, including the Daguerre ghost, in Fracastorius very easily. Earlier, I even observed a daylight Moon, stacking the M&SG with an Orange #21. Although technically the Solomark was in the diagonal and the #21 on the Meade 4000. I was quite intrigued in the detail revealed by stacking the two, although it was hard work teasing it out, it could be done. During the later night time session I switched to a 45° WO Amici (below) as it was easier for the position I was sitting. It has a Bak 4 prism.



I've pulled the trigger on the Solomark Crystalview Moon Filter and Light Pollution Filters. No doubt I'll end up in The Village now ...

Solomark info: http://www.trademarkia.com/solomark-86424057.html

 

Ah! The first episode of the Solomark - and the Prisoner, too! Win-Win!

Thanks, Mak -

Dave

 

Yeah, The Prisoner even had gaudy coloured cordless phones way back in the '60s lol! I think it might be a good idea to buy loads of Solomark stuff now before it becomes an established name and they make you pay for it .

 

I think there were only 17 episodes, I'm pretty sure you can get them on DVD, I'm also pretty sure you can watch them all on YouTube for free lol.

Some info links about The Prisoner:

http://www.sixofone.co.uk

http://www.screenonline.org.uk/tv/id/478691/index.html



https://www.amazon.com/Solomark-Pla...13&sr=8-2&keywords=solomark+80mm+solar+filter

Is this the Solomark solar filter Ray? I'm guessing it should fit any 80mm scope, although you may have to remove the dew sleeve.

I've only tried one Solomark filter so far but they seem OK. I'm still convinced they're cheaper because you're not paying for a name/middle man distributor. I'm pretty sure Solomark is a trading name for the Yuyao Qihang Optical Instrument Company.

 

I reiterate, Mak: You Rat! Steering poor, widdle me into the tentacles of the Yuyao Qihang Optical Instrument Company! What with my Filter-Addiction still in full bloom!

But seriously - I'd be likely to pry-open my purse and spring for a Solomark, probably a UHC or OIII, if I had even the most diminutive of excuses to use on myself. But I don't. I already have several highly-rated & praised UHC-Filters. And I have 2 OIII's to play with as well - Astronomik & Baader. Now maybe I could have saved a steamer-trunk of money if I'd bought a Solomark before I got these - if & when someone else did the roadwork to find out how they compared to the offerings from Astronomik, Baader, et al.

So I feel comfortable in letting someone else play Financial-Victim and test-fire these. I'd love to get my eyes on a transmission-graph on the Solomarks..... You wouldn't have a musty, old wad of about £100,000.00 laying about, would you?

Watched 2 episodes of The Prisoner late last night. More is in the queue for tonight! Oh yeah!

Be Seeing You,

Dave

 

I'm sure someone will publish a transmission graph eventually. I'm guessing they'll be the same as the Sky-Watcher equivalents. I did some more lunar viewing with the Moon & Skygeek, I’m still fairly impressed. Some of the viewing was in daylight and I stacked the M&SG with an orange filter again. Eventually I could discard the orange filter and the M&SG turned the darkening blue sky black. Later, I used it to view M42, M48 and later still M45. I thougt it really did help with contrast.



M48 was difficult but I could make out the prominent Red Giant. M42 was hazy and a bit indistinct but without the Skygeek it would have been virtually impossible to have seen the nebula at all.

https://www.telescopehouse.com/accessories/filters/special-purpose/contrast-enhancement-1-25.html


What do you know about these Sirius Optics filters Dave? They do minus cyan filters as well.

Be seeing you.

 

LOL!

I have the Sirius CE1-Filter (for years) and it works quite well. It was interesting to try on many things. It reminds me of the Baader Fringe-Killer - but different. In a word: Unique.

Interesting is your use of an orange-filter and stacking them. One day we'll discover the 'phaser,' I'm sure, by playing with these things. We'll also 'discover' a smoking hole where the neighbors' house once stood.....Ah well - such be the price of 'progress!'

Here's my notoriously un-scientific "Lightbulb-Filter Test" with the CE1:




B Cing U,

Dave

P.S. - I have an older, pre-Neodymium Baader Moon & Skyglow Filter. it would be interesting to compare this to a Solomark. But that 'Pond' does present a bit of an obstacle...

 

I've pulled the trigger on the CE1, it is reminiscent of some of the Baader filters, possibly the Baader Contrast Booster, but isn't designed particularly for achromatic refractors. Plus, I'm just curious. It's a little bit more expensive than Baader filters though.

A Wratten Orange #21 is probably the best for lunar daylight viewing as it tends to turn the surrounding sky black. Stacking it with the 'under a tenner' Solomark was an experiment. It was relatively successful though.

Well, if you really want to compare the Baader M&SG, ten bucks for the Solomark is probably cheaper than flying across the Atlantic.



Unless you go by Ryanair

 

After some research I've discovered that the CE1 is very highly thought of, but I've also read that you have to be careful cleaning it. Could I use Baader Optical Wonder fluid on it do you think Dave?

Oh, and I found this: http://karmalimbo.com/aro/pics/filters/deepsky_masterlist.pdf

According to this PDF the CE1 scotopic % weighted transmissivity is 50.1% as opposed to the 54.7% of the Baader UHC-S. Although it is less of a dedicated nebula filter I think. The Baader Moon & Skyglow (IDK if this is the neodymium version) is 72.3% in comparison. I’ve read where some people use the CE1 instead of a Baader Neodymium and that they’re similar in some respects.

 

I have no knowledge of the Baader Wonder-Fluid stuff - we can't get it here due to restrictions on shipping certain chemicals. I have a simple solution though - never touch the filter! A rocket-blower and fine optical-brush. If push came to shove, I'd use a LensPen - very carefully. Though many fear them - I love the LensPens! Never had a problem as long as you clean off any adhering nasties.

The CE1's are their own flavor. Not really like anything else - similar. But no real comparisons.

Dave

 

Oh right, that explains why a lot of Americans I've spoken to have no knowledge of the Baader stuff.

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/as...g-protection/baader-optical-wonder-fluid.html

There has to be an equivalent Stateside. I agree about the lens pens, if used carefully. Just a Baader or good microfibre cloth on its own can be OK for removing finger grease smudges.

The CE1 sounds interesting. Of course, if I like it a lot I'll want more Sirius Optics filters.

 

I've set up the Bazooka mount and tripod ready for Jupiter on Friday or around that day, and maybe for some lunar observing during this lunation.



I've decided to use the Orion EZ II from the Orion Mak, it's never been used. It's light and simple, and I can't find my metal reflex sights anyway lol. All my other sights are collimated to other scopes. I have a back up Synta reflex or two already collimated to the Bazooka as well.



Got to use the Solomark Moon & Skygeek on a daylight Moon. I was surprised what I could see at 28x and 60x.





Pointing south. Earlier I accidentally put the wrong counterweight on, it almost worked! The 2kg weight is shown above.



The business end with the Baader helical and a Meade Plossl.



The mount and tripod snugly covered ready for action.

 

Looking good there, Mak! That's a very handsome Newt.

What is that scope-cover made out of? I have a large Nylon® tarp I can toss over my entire 12' X 12' wooden-deck on the upper-floor of my building. With a center-pole ("lodge-pole" to us Native's), I'd have the equivalent of a Mongolian yurt out of my deck-door. That should lower the property values (not to mention our out-of-control property taxes) around here!

I have some sad news for you, Mak: You've been manifesting the symptomology of an advancing case of Filteritis Nuticus - which is incurable - and will likely cause you to expand your collection of little, round pieces of glass with threads on them. Next will be another little aluminum-case with foam inside. I'm dreadfully sorry for you. Beware - it is contagious.

Speaking of being a Filter-Nut, the threads on these Zhumell's are outstanding! Smooth as silk and very sure grip, easy to put filters in and take out in dark conditions. Or some ambient red-light.

Mak? Do you know anything about BST Planetary EP's? I'm wondering if they might not be related to these Zhumell EP's.

Raining here, and likely to continue such for the week and weekend. Think I'll take a nap. Bah!

"Eeek! Mongolians! "

Dave & Raul

 

I think it's polyethylene, I bought it last year. I take the OTA inside but keep the mount/tripod under this. Makes it a grab'n'go Newtonian with an EQ mount. I had to guess north as I set up in daylight, I wasn't far off.



I got to test it all as it hasn't been used since last year. I got a good 180 ~ 281x on the Moon. This is going to sound yampo but I thought the Solomark Moon & Skygeek worked better on the Moon than the Baader Neodymium. My guess is there was a bit of haze and the Skygeek contrast seemed better, it is a tad more aggresive than the Baader. Kinda looked like this (by courtesy of Virtual Moon Atlas, GIMP & PhotoFiltre 7):



I saw some fantastic jagged crater floor rim shadows in Archimedes and others. I also managed to view the Pleiades and M42 with the Skygeek filter. Although that was at 36x (25mm GSO Plossl). Again, I thought the extra contrast with the Skygeek was actually an improvement on the Baader Neodymium. I saw more of the nebula with the Skygeek than with the Baader or with no filter. Who'd of thunk it for under a tenner lol! I have two more Solomarks and the Sirius filter arriving today.



The Baader came into its own though as I watched a rising Jupiter. It looked pretty spectacular. I can't wait to try the CE1 on it very soon.



Are the BST Planetary EP's the same as these TS Optics Planetary HR's? I was using this 5mm on the Moon and Jupiter last night. I'm fairly sure these are Barsta.

 

My monster-tarp is commonly known as a 'Roofers' Tarp' around here. You see these used to cover over the roof-area of houses that blew-off, burned-off, or was carried away by Evil Faeries that escaped from some old text on Icelandic mythology.....

I think mine is also polyethylene, come to think of it. They're everywhere and covering everything from boats & trailers to a multitude-of-sins. Mine is 20' X 20' and cost about $20.00. I'll be hauling my Giant Field Tripod for an LX200 12" for setting-up my LX90 12" on. I gave away the LX200, but kept the tripod. Good thing too - the tripod the LX90 came with seems to be about at it's limit. The 'Giant' should have much better stability. Just these tripods run $750.00 the last time I looked.

Thanks for the info on the Barsta/BST/TS. This means I've found another source for these EP's here in the Untied Snakes.

Enjoy your Filteritis,

Dave

 

The CE1 arrived, with filter transmission chart graph. It's a bit weird but interesting. I'm waiting on the Solomarks. I'm pretty sure the TS Optics and BST Planetary eyepieces are Barsta.