03/30/2020 Solar Ha image

This image is two images combined. One image was taken to expose for the surface and the other for the very faint prominences along the edge.
The original files were 1000 frame SER files edited using AutoStakkert 3! and ImPPG. Combined and colorized in Photoshop CC.
The reason I set up yesterday was that I was alerted of a new sunspot just coming around the limb. You can just barely make it out up around the 10 o'clock position as a very small lighter colored area. Astronomers believe it might be the 4th from the new solar cycle 25.

Lunt 80mm Single stack Ha scope. ZWO1600mm camera

IMAGE LINK: https://photos.smugmug​.com …i-ksfLRzs-X3.jpg&lb=1&s=A

WOW ! Awesome capture of the sun ! Lots of detail ! What scope/filter did you use ?

Thanks. It's in the description. Lunt 80mm Ha telescope. ZWO 1600mm camera

SiriusDoggy wrote in post #19037714
Thanks. It's in the description. Lunt 80mm Ha telescope. ZWO 1600mm camera

Wow nice scope ! When you buy those kind of scopes does an EP come with it or do you have to buy extra ? Other words is it ready to observe ?

It comes with a decent zoom eyepiece. I believe it's an 8-25mm. To be honest though, if you're buying a specialized Solar Ha scope, chances are you have already got a decent selection of eyepieces from your nighttime rig. I think I can count the number of times I've used the scope visually on 2 hands. And of course, don't forget the mount, solar tracker, etc....

SiriusDoggy wrote in post #19037820
It comes with a decent zoom eyepiece. I believe it's an 8-25mm. To be honest though, if you're buying a specialized Solar Ha scope, chances are you have already got a decent selection of eyepieces from your nighttime rig. I think I can count the number of times I've used the scope visually on 2 hands. And of course, don't forget the mount, solar tracker, etc....

So you can use regular EPs’ from night scope ? I thought you had to use special EPs’ for solar viewing ?

Celestron wrote in post #19037855
So you can use regular EPs’ from night scope ? I thought you had to use special EPs’ for solar viewing ?

No special eyepiece required. I use my TeleVue eyepieces with it. All of the special filtering is done pre-eyepiece.
I've also used the included zoom eyepiece while viewing the moon since it's easy to zoom in and out.

At least that's the way the Lunt Ha solar scopes work... There may be other brands/types out there that require special eyepieces, but I'm not aware of them.
This is the model I own with the B1800 blocking filter. The B1200 is visual only but the B1800 is both visual and imaging. The blocking filter is in the diagonal, so you CANNOT
use just any diagonal.
I replaced the focuser with a Moonlight motorized focuser because I set this rig up on my balcony and run all the cables inside the house so I can image in July/August here in Vegas when it's 110°+ outside.

https://luntsolarsyste​ms.com …-ls80tha-solar-telescope/

Oh ok , the diagonal is the key in accessories. See I’ve never had a solar scope , too rich for my pocket but i never really understood how they worked and what you had to buy to use it .

Celestron wrote in post #19038055
Oh ok , the diagonal is the key in accessories. See I’ve never had a solar scope , too rich for my pocket but i never really understood how they worked and what you had to buy to use it .

Yeah, they are not cheap, for sure. You can convert a regular refractor into an HA scope using a Quark device. I've never seen or used one but I've seen the results and they are smilar. Also not a cheap device though. https://www.daystarfil​ters.com/Quark.shtml

So when you buy a Lunt scope you have to buy the diagonal extra or does it come with it ??

Celestron wrote in post #19038345
So when you buy a Lunt scope you have to buy the diagonal extra or does it come with it ??

The diagonal DOES come with it. But you have to choose which one, the visual one or the visual/imaging one. The B1200 blocking filter is too small a diameter to image without serious vignetting but is not apparent visually.
The B1800 is the more expensive option. It's the same "density" filter but it's larger so it allows you to image with it. There's a sizable price difference too.