Ha Solar filter question

[chrisp9au (Chris)]

I've been checking out the sun every day recently with a standard solar filter on my TV Genesis.

There's been a fair bit of activity, and watching the development of the complex cluster at the moment has been fascinating.
I even managed to get my wife to have a look!

I'm wondering what sort of money I would need to save to get an Ha filter that fits my Genesis?
I can't see the point in buying a PST if I can get a filter at a reasonable price.

I've got a couple of pieces of gear I'm thinking of selling, and this seems like it might be a good investment.

Any recommendations?

Cheers
Chris

[mozzie (Peter)]

chris have a look at bintels web site theyve a lot of h/a filters one might fit your scope

[Paddy (Patrick)]

HI Chris,

I bought my Lunt Ha filter second hand via IIS. It originally came form Sirius optics http://www.sirius-optics.com.au/telescopes.htm . They look like they go for $1275 for etalon and B600 blocking filter/diagonal. If your focal length is longer than 600 mm you need the B1200 instead of B600, which is also necessary if you want to image the whole disc. there is no problem viewing the hole disc visually with B600. You buy an aluminium ring to attach it to the front of the scope and I don't think they cost much.

I will have mine at Snake Valley next weekend so with clear skies you should get a good preview.

A fantastic investment in my addicted opinion.

[chrisp9au (Chris)]

Thanks Patrick,

I have an attachment for the front end of my TV Genesis which is a bit of a mystery to me, I'll bring it to Snake valley for you to check.
The scope is F5 so the B600 sounds like the unit I would need.

See you there!

Cheers
Chris

[chrisp9au (Chris)]

Having checked out the prices, even 2nd hand, I reckon I might be better off talking to Alan Sheen 'Sheeny' about the Coronado PST he is currently trying to sell?

It's still going to be tough job convincing my lovely wife that this is an essential piece of gear!

Cheers
Chris

[Merlin66 (Ken)]

An SM40/BF5 or a SM60/BF10 front etalon filter would work well on the Genesis.
I have the SM60, but mount it on the ED80 with a DMK41 camera for solar imaging.
Remember that it is possible to modify the PST to use a larger aperture telescope ie 80mm -200mm - Costs money.... but a very, very safe and effective way of getting fantastic Ha views/images at reasonable cost.
(I have a write-up available on Modding PST scopes (6Mb) - PM your email address for a copy)
Ken

[chrisp9au (Chris)]

Thanks Ken,

Prices are way beyond what I can justify!
And Sheeny sold the PST a couple of minutes before my PM got to him!
Until circumstances change I'll have to stick with the Baader filter, and visits to the Nascom site for the other views.
I am, however, waiting on a response from OPT inthe USA who are currently offering PSTs at US$499. Just depends on whether they will ship to Oz.

Cheers
Chris

[Merlin66 (Ken)]

The Ha PST (with case and crappy K20 eyepiece) are selling s/h for around the 300Gbp mark here in the UK.
There's a big demand to buy and mod them.....

[chrisp9au (Chris)]

Thanks Ken,

On the exchange rate that's about AU$490, plus postage, pretty similar to the OPT price.
I'll wait and see what OPT have to say about shipping.

How is life in Cobham by the way? Must be close to 50 years since I last went through there!
Lived for a while in Sanderstead near Croydon and used to go down to college in Southampton via Guildford.

Cheers
Chris

[Merlin66 (Ken)]

Cobham...probably hasn't changed much other than the price of the houses!!!!
The main road still floods every year....Oh and we now have a Pizza Express....

[chrisp9au (Chris)]

Originally Posted by Merlin66

Oh and we now have a Pizza Express....

Ah, progress!