Sky-Watcher Heliostar 76Ha Solar Telescope with SolarQuest Mount
A Complete Hα Solar Viewing Package!
Get closer to the thunderous forces driving our closet star than ever before with Heliostar. Behind the impressive view of our Sun's surface observable through a solar filter hides even more awe-inspiring detail, and with Sky-Watcher this window to powerful and dynamic solar activity has been unlocked. Locate our solar companion and bring its might into focus now, with the 630 mm f/8.3 Heliostar 76Ha Solar Telescope and SolarQuest Alt-Azimuth Solar Mount package!
656.3 nm. This is the wavelength on which some of the Sun's most stunning feature's are visible, such as filaments, solar prominences, sun spots, and powerful solar flares. The Sky-Watcher Heliostar 76Ha Solar Telescope brings you these energetic and dynamic features by isolating an incredibly small section of the light spectrum at this wavelength - an <0.55Å, or <0.055 nm, bandpass! This extreme precision is well outside the realm of even the most advanced Ha astrophotography filters and not only brings the breathtaking solar features into focus, but renders them in sharp detail and contrast. While traditional solar scopes require 'double-stacking' of the etalon filters that make viewing the Sun's Hα details possible, Sky-Watcher's Solis Etalon brings you double-stack etalon performance for an incredible single etalon price point. This stellar performance can be tuned further with Sky-Watcher's Trifid Tuner system, allowing you to finely shift the isolated wavelength and bring out the most of your solar viewing experience. With a special 1.25" diagonal, 20mm 70° eyepiece, and smart phone adapter included, you can embark on your solar quest though this scope's 630 mm f/8.3 optics right out of the box; or swap in a compatible astro camera to reveal even more detail!
Please Note: The Sky-Watcher Heliostar 76Ha Solar Telescope is for solar viewing only. Always exercise caution when viewing the Sun. Do not remove the included diagonal, as it contains special components needed to safely observe the Sun through this telescope. Failure to observe proper safety measures while solar viewing can result in permanent eye damage.
Sky-Watcher Solis Etalon Technology
To precisely hone in on the Hα features of the Sun, dedicated solar telescopes use a specialized filter called an etalon. These incredible filters typically open a bandpass window around the 656.3 nm wavelength around a mere 0.8-0.7 Angstom (or 0.08-0.07 nm) wide. Achieving even more precision has been possible by 'double-stacking', which refers to adding a second etalon to narrow the bandpass even further and enhance solar scope performance; however as this incredible filter technology contributes to a large part of a dedicated solar telescope's cost, double-stack performance could multiply the cost of your setup quickly. Additionally, adding a second etalon introduces additional complexity during use as you need to adjust the tuning on both to find the combination that provides the best results for the entire system. Sky-Watcher has challenged this reality with their incredible Solis Etalon technology. With Solis, you can enjoy <0.55 Angstrom bandpass double-stack etalon performance in a package that is more in line with the cost of a single etalon! This system achieves this incredible performance with just a single middle-mount etalon filter, meaning this scope not only provides a lower cost compared to double-stack systems but also simpler operation in the field as there is just one tuner you need to adjust!
Dedicated Solar Tracker Included!
Included with this solar scope package is Sky-Watcher's dedicated solar mount, the SolarQuest Alt-Azimuth Solar Mount! This has been engineered solely for solar, with a dedicated feature you won't find on any conventional mount — Sky-Watcher's HelioFind technology. With a specialized solar 'eye' and built-in GPS, the SolarQuest automatically find the Sun and tracks it for you as it move across the sky. This allows you to start observing quickly; simply set up the included pier and tripod, mount your Heliostar, and power up the SolarQuest to be pointed at the Sun in just a few moments. 8-way manual controls are built right into the mount, so there's no hand controller to bring along, just the portable tripod, pier, mount, and eight AA batteries to drive the SolarQuest!
Superb Solar Views, Right Out of the Box!
The Sky-Watcher Heliostar 76Ha Solar Telescope come packed full of all the performance and features you need to embark on an exploration of the stunning Hα solar features, right out of the box! Whether you're interested in viewing the center of our solar system through an eyepiece or through your own dedicated astro camera, this premium solar scope has you covered!
Double-Stack Etalon Performance Without the Double-Stack Price
At the heart of the Heliostar 76Ha Solar Telescope is Sky-Watcher's
Solis Etalon Technology, which allows you to get excellent performance at an
incredible price! Where other dedicated solar scopes require double-stacked
etalons, the Solis system does not; providing <0.55 Angstom bandpass
performance without the added complexity and cost. This allows the Heliostar
to resolve awe-inspiring solar features with a high amount of detail and
contrast!
Hone in on the Sun: Trifid Tuner
The ability to narrow your view of the Sun down to <0.55Å is just
part of the story when it comes to solar viewing and imaging through an
Hα telescope. As the Sun's emission on the Hα wavelength can
shift due to Doppler effects, your etalon needs to be able to shift as well,
and this is where tuning comes in! To allow you to shift with these changes
the Heliostar 76Ha Solar Telescope features Sky-Watcher's Trifid tuning
system. Situated between the collimating lenses inside the Heliostar and
supported by three support veins, this tuner precisely applies physical
pressure to only the etalon. This allows you to tune the filter for
current conditions and resolve the maximum amount of detail on solar
structures, without impacting the very precise collimating lenses!
Certified Safety
Sky-Watcher has ensured your vision
and gear will be safe while observing and imaging the Sun through the
Heliostar 76Ha Solar Telescope. Every scope is lab tested in the United
States for compliance with ISO safety standards, and each Heliostar is
tested on the Sun to ensure your telescope will be ready for safe solar use.
A crucial component of your Heliostar 76Ha Solar Telescope's safe is the
included diagonal, which has an 11.5 mm blocking filter built-in to bring
the image formed by the Solis Etalon to safe view levels.
Do not remove or replace the included diagonal. For added safety
during your solar experience, a sun shade is included in the box to help
shield you from accidental glances at the Sun while solar viewing, along
with a dedicated solar finder to allow you to safely locate the Sun.
Visual Observation and Solar Imaging Capable
The
Sky-Watcher Heliostar 76Ha Solar Telescope can bring stellar views of our
closest star to your eyepiece, smartphone, or dedicated astro camera! To get
you up and running right out of the box, this scope comes with a 20mm
70° 1.25" eyepiece that will bring you a full-disc view of the Sun's
incredible Hα details through the 630 mm f/8.3 optics; which can be
swapped with any 1.25" to personalize your take on these solar details
should you so choose! This can be combined with the included smartphone
adapter to take quick shots of the Sun, or replaced entirely with an 1.25"
or a T-thread astro camera connection to capture solar filaments, sun spots,
prominences, and flares in even greater detail! With an 11.5 blocking filter
installed in the diagonal, this scope is capable of providing a full solar
disc image with the right camera, making capturing a complete look at the
Sun simple. However you decide to enjoy the Sun in Hα, finding focus
has been made easy with an included Crayford focuser. With a dual-speed
mechanism, both quick rough focus and precise fine focus adjustments can be
made smoothly with the turn of a dial!
Sky-Watcher SolarQuest Mount Included
While the
Sky-Watcher Heliostar can work on any mount, it really comes to life with
Sky-Watcher's dedicated solar mount — the SolarQuest Alt-Azimuth Solar
Mount! This package includes this incredible portable solar mount, allowing
you to build a complete solar set up right from the get-go. Designed
specifically for solar, this mount features Sky-Watcher's HelioFind
technology which can automatically find and track the Sun for you. Combined
with a portable, yet robust, pier and tripod, you can easily embark on your
own solar quest in the backyard or on-the-go!
What's in the Box?
Included with your Sky-Watcher
Heliostar 76Ha Solar Telescope are all the components you need to get
started! In addition to the HeliScope optical tube you'll receive mounting
rings and a V-style dovetail to attach your solar scope to the included
Sky-Watcher SolarQuest Alt-Azimuth Solar Mount. For solar observation and
impromptu imaging right out of the box, this package includes a 20 mm
70° 1.25" eyepiece and smartphone adapter. To help shade the eyepiece or
imaging equipment while using the Heliostar, a sun shade is additionally
included. Ensuring you can easily and safely train the Heliostar on the Sun,
this scope additionally includes a dedicated solar finder. Finally, to keep
your scope safe in transit or storage, Sky-Watcher has included a hard-shell
carry case!
Please Note: The black sun shade shown is a pre-production version; your Helioscope will come with a white sun shade.
Astronomy Hub: Your one-stop-shop for Astrophotography Knowledge!
Our Gear Experts have compiled a wealth of information to help expand your astrophotography knowledge! Below you’ll find links to articles, videos and "how-to" guides. Just one more reason that our Astronomy Hub is a one-stop-shop for all your astronomy and astrophotography needs!
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