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solar imaging with daystar quark and z61

ZWO ASI385MC Equipment Solar Filter Help Needed
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Pedro Cabanillas avatar
Pedro Cabanillas avatar
Good evening everyone I need some help, I recently purchased a daystar quark and I am trying to image using a WO ZS61 telescope. I have tries everything and no matter what I cant seem to be able to see anything. I was wondering if anyone using this same setup could explain their stack up when they image.

My current setup 
ZS61 
daystar quark 
ZWO Asi385mc 

Anything helps, Thank you.
Josh avatar
Josh avatar
you need extension tubes…..lots and lots of extension tubes. I've got this setup and it's been a long time since i've used it, but from memory, something like 100mm of extensions were needed.
hughsie avatar
hughsie avatar
I started with this set up and I just placed the Quark in the diagonal as if it was an eyepiece and it worked fine.

Z61 -> Diagonal -> Quark -> Camera

All I would add is if all this is on an equatorial mount, then once you have the Sun in view rotate the diagonal so the Quark is vertical and ensure the diagonal is secure.
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Thomas avatar
Thomas avatar
Is the problem not getting the Sun in view or not able to achieve focus with the Quark? 

If you are having problems getting the Sun in the field of view, something like a Solar Finder to attach to your scope would help. Other methods include looking at the shadow your scope makes on the ground and moving the scope around to "circularize" the shadow. Or a more dangerous method is to remove the Quark and watch for the bright spot to appear like a magnifying glass on some medium like a sheet of paper or cardboard. DO NOT look through the scope or hold anything there too long while doing this method.

If it is a focus problem, then the above mentioned comment of getting some extension tubes should help.
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