Photographing the sun

[PeterEde]

Was just told on a photography forum in the Astrophotography section that I need a coronado to shoot flares and prominances?
Is that true or can you do it with just Ha filters?

[dannat]

you really need a solar scope (coronado or lunt) -or you can buy a front end filter that threads onto the existing telescope OTA - the solar scope consists of 2 parts an etalon at the front & a blocking filter at the back

NB most of the entry level scopes aren't setup for photography..they will need to be modified

were you thinking of using a telescope or camera lenses...i don't think anyone makes a front filter to attach to a camera lens to get flare/prom's

[PeterEde]

I thought you could get Ha filters for doing it

[Merlin66]

Peter,
The bandwidth required for safe Ha observing (and imaging) of the sun is a magnitude smaller than any Ha DSO filter. It needs around a 1A pass width (0.1nm)
To achieve this fine resolution the professional solar Ha filters are actually a combination of at least two filter elements - an etalon and a blocking filter. The quality requirements are MUCH higher than conventional filters and so unfortunately is the pricing!!
Coronado, Lunt and Daystar all produce good solar Ha filters.
HTH

[barx1963]

Peter
DO NOT use a Ha filter for viewing or imaging the sun unless it is a specific solar filter. Usually these come as a set with at least 2 components and can be quite pricey.
If you attempt to use an ordinary Ha filter ( eg one of these http://www.lumicon.com/store/c/33-Hydrogen-Alpha-Filters.aspx ) the best result is you will wreck the filter, or the scope or the camera or most likely all three. The other possibility is that if you attempt to use it visually you will destroy your eyesight.

Malcolm

[PeterEde]

Thanks guys
I guess I'll stick with the baader film for now

[Starlite]

168654 Hi petered, this is a rough A-Focal pic of a prom. Lunt 60 T Ha solar scope,just pointing digital camera at eyepiece. cheers John.

[Merlin66]

Just a comment re PST bandwidth.
The majority of the better performing PST etalons have a bandwidth around 0.7A...these are the ones I look for when doing the PST mod.
10/80/10 - 10% should never have left the factory!, 80% are "OK" and 10% are magic!