Filter Systems

Solarscope Solar Filter Systems

Solarscope Solar Filter (SF) systems allow you to convert your existing night time telescope into a powerful solar instrument. When you want to go back to viewing the stars, simply remove the filter system, replace it in its foam lined box and carry on using your telescope as normal.

Solarscope currently offer four different sizes of etalon; 50mm, 60mm, 70mm and the top of the range 100mm.

A front mounted etalon filter is complimented by a rear fitted blocking filter which is described below. Solarscope have the adapter specifications for many different types of telescope on hand. By letting us know what telescope you intend to use with the filter, we will manufacture the appropriate adapter plate for your needs. If your scope isn’t in our database, a customer adapter can normally still be created by supplying a couple of basic dimensions.

The adapter plate fits snugly over the front of your scope and is then locked safely into position via six thumbscrews. Once fitted, the adapter presents a female thread into which the main filter screws. The front mounted etalon works in conjunction with a blocking filter at the eyepiece end of the telescope and it’s essential that this secondary filter is fitted for the SF system to work correctly.

In order for the system to work correctly a blocking filter needs to be fitted into the eyepiece holder of your telescope. By default, this filter is housed in a standard 2″ tube. Solutions are available for 1.25″ fittings as well, please call for further information.

The external end of the blocking filter is designed to accept 2″ eyepiece or camera fittings. A 2″ to 1.25″ adapter is included as standard should it be required.

Once the front mounted etalon and the rear blocking filter have been attached to your telescope, as described, that’s it – you’re ready to go out and enjoy the Sun.

Specification Table

	SF-50	SF-60	SF-70	SF-100
Focal length	As host telescope	As host telescope	As host telescope	As host telescope
Focal ratio	As host telescope	As host telescope	As host telescope	As host telescope
Objective lens	As host telescope	As host telescope	As host telescope	As host telescope
Full aperture	50mm	60mm	70mm	100mm
Operating wavelength	656.28nm (H-alpha)	656.28nm (H-alpha)	656.28nm (H-alpha)	656.28nm (H-alpha)
Bandpass	0.7 Angstroms	0.7 Angstroms	0.7 Angstroms	0.7 Angstroms
Double stack bandpass	0.5 Angstroms	0.5 Angstroms	0.5 Angstroms	0.5 Angstroms
Etalon coating	Ultra Hard multi-layer dielectric reflector	Ultra Hard multi-layer dielectric reflector	Ultra Hard multi-layer dielectric reflector	Ultra Hard multi-layer dielectric reflector
Anti-reflective coating	Ultra Hard multi-layer dielectric AR	Ultra Hard multi-layer dielectric AR	Ultra Hard multi-layer dielectric AR	Ultra Hard multi-layer dielectric AR
Thermal stability	<1Å / 200°C	<1Å / 200°C	<1Å / 200°C	<1Å / 200°C
Blocking filter size	???	???	???	???
Blocking filter to scope	2″ (1.25″ optional)	2″ (1.25″ optional)	2″ (1.25″ optional)	2″ (1.25″ optional)
Blocking filter output	2″ or 1.25″	2″ or 1.25″	2″ or 1.25″	2″ or 1.25″
Optimum host scope f/length	<3000mm	<3000mm	<3000mm	<3000mm
Weight	?	?	?	?
Comes with	Etalon, adapter plate, 2″->1.25″ adapter, blocking filter, dust caps, foam-lined case	Etalon, adapter plate, 2″->1.25″ adapter, blocking filter, dust caps, foam-lined case	Etalon, adapter plate, 2″->1.25″ adapter, blocking filter, dust caps, foam-lined case	Etalon, adapter plate, 2″->1.25″ adapter, blocking filter, dust caps, foam-lined case