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Solar Imaging Tips: 

Daystar 

recommends 

MONOCHROME 

CCD 

imaging 

whenever 

possible for best results.  
The  recent  availability  of 
CCD  cameras  and  DSLR 
cameras  has  offered  a 
simple 

opportunity 

for 

solar  observers  to  image 
the 

Sun 

in 

Hydrogen 

Alpha  with  a  Digital  SLR 
camera.   Please  be  advised,  however,  that  due  to  the  nature  of 
monochromatic  light  and  its  effects  on  a  CCD  camera,  certain  negative 
effects are likely to occur.   

 

 
The  DSLR  imager  must  be  aware  that  most  camera  manufacturers 
(Canon  and  Nikon)  use  an  IR  blocking  filter  which  greatly  reduces  the 
transmission  of  Hydrogen  Alpha  light.  DSLR  cameras  without  this  IR 
blocking filter will have better sensitivity imaging in Hydrogen Alpha.  

The  imager  should  also  appreciate  that  even  after  considering  IR 
blocking  filters,  that  the  COLOR  CCD  chip  is  constructed  in  a  way  that 
only 1  in  4 pixels detect red light.  The other 3 sensors only  detect blue 
and  green  because  the  pixels  are  actually  permanently  covered  with  a 
colored  dye  for  each  corresponding  color.    So  a  color  CCD  chip  (in  a 
DSLR  or  a  CCD  camera)  will  only  offer  1/4  the  sensitivity  and  1/2  the 
resolution of a monochrome chip. 

Another  effect  present  in  CCD  imaging  of 
monochrome  light  of  Hydrogen  Alpha  is  the 
interference  pattern  -  or  Newton's  Rings.    The 
effect is similar to interference testing of an optical 
surface  between  two  flat  surfaces.   The  sensor 
and cover slip cause a small interferometer inside 
the  camera  and  cause  a  Newton's  Ring  moire' 
pattern.   The  CCD  chip  must  be  tilted  to  a  minor 
degree  to  prevent  this  pattern.   Recent  advances 

in  aftermarket  adapters  offer  a  simplified  solution  for  the  issue.    This 
effect is a concern for both color and monochrome sensors.  

An optional accessory is available from DayStar (MG-0408) which can be 
used  between  the  DSLR  and  SolaREDi  66  to  adjust  the  light  angle  and 
extinct the interference pattern. 

Summary of Contents for SolaREDi 66

Page 1: ...ning knob to point straight away from the indicator light When the light turns green in about 5 15 minutes your viewing experience can begin Warnings Do not disassemble the filter the blocking element is separated from the etalon and the complete assembly must be used together for safe viewing Do not power the filter from a computer or cell phone charger as the SolaREDi 66 requires a high current ...

Page 2: ...ieces have been opened tampered with or removed Responsible owners will be prudent to inform guest or novice observers of the special nature of the telescope configuration so not to imply that telescopic observing of the sun is safe without proper filtration A few very important points that owners and operators must understand DayStar filters are temperature sensitive Changing the temperature will...

Page 3: ...Finder Usage The included zero power finder allows you to find the sun With your back to the Sun observe the dot of light that passed through the front of the finder on the target Move the telescope pointing until the dot of light is in the center of the target Then using a low power long focal length eyepiece such as a 25mm 40mm locate the sun through the telescope eyepiece and center it Due to n...

Page 4: ... even view and widest exit pupil In Solar Observing contrast is achieved by control of scattering Tele Vue Plossls stand out in superior design Furthermore the adjustable eye cup offers additional contrast by allowing the user to dark adapt during sunny days Eyepiece features we found to increase performance include Fully Multicoated Of those eyepieces which did better than others those marked ful...

Page 5: ...ction Concentrated sunlight can create very high temperatures where it falls so care must be taken to prevent melted components or fire The SolaREDi 66 includes a blocking filter as the first element to receive concentrated light It reflects all but red Hydrogen Alpha light back out of the front of the telescope preventing heat from building up inside the unit However if the telescope is pointed o...

Page 6: ...e they are easily scratched A few specks of dust will have no effect on the quality of the image and may be gently blown off with a squeeze bulb Do NOT use compressed air cans to blow dust off any optical surfaces Small amounts of residual film will not affect visual performance Fingerprints smudges and smears must be cleaned off Preferred cleaning method is to return the SolaREDi 66 to the DaySta...

Page 7: ...seeing conditions even on a clear day DayStar Filters are high power viewing platforms and this high resolution can be susceptible to seeing issues Solar Observers using high powered high resolution telescopes and DayStar filters should heed daytime seeing While many of these conditions are beyond our control observing in an area with ideal conditions without pavement in the direction of viewing a...

Page 8: ...ly 1 in 4 pixels detect red light The other 3 sensors only detect blue and green because the pixels are actually permanently covered with a colored dye for each corresponding color So a color CCD chip in a DSLR or a CCD camera will only offer 1 4 the sensitivity and 1 2 the resolution of a monochrome chip Another effect present in CCD imaging of monochrome light of Hydrogen Alpha is the interferen...

Page 9: ...range from bright solar flares to faint eruptive or floating prominences quite a distance from the solar limb In order to capture all these features we recommend the use of 12 bit or 16 bit cameras Normal 8 bit cameras can be used but will typically only be able to image either the surface or prominences necessitating multiple bracketed exposures and subsequent recombination in a computer 12 bit o...

Page 10: ... contrast of space To observe the details of chromosphere on the face of the sun we need a narrower filter to eliminate more off band light of the photosphere and continuum We need a filter less than 1 0Å The narrower the filter s bandpass the more contrast we will see down to 0 4Å where prominence structure is reduced due to high velocity and subsequent wing shift Filaments appear as large dark e...

Page 11: ... several types of features contained in a close area Field Transition Arches FTA s connect P and F spots elements of opposite polarity Inside an active region where sunspots are originally linked by a FTA a shear boundary forms Field Transition Arches are different from filaments in that they are thin and not very dark The FTA usually has plage or granular structure underneath Plages Most of the a...

Page 12: ...otion Stresses in lines of force build up slowly and are released in flares They occur most frequently at neutral lines where a filament is supported by horizontal sheared field lines This event can only take place along a magnetic inversion line When many lines of force are involved two ribbons of emission appear brightening simultaneously Emerging Flux Regions An area on the Sun where a magnetic...

Page 13: ...Your filter is adjusting to the wavelength chosen by the knob Wait approximately 5 15 minutes for the temperature to adjust and then light should turn green indicating that the filter has settled to its required temperature and is on band for viewing Yellow never goes green LED indication If after 20 minutes of the same knob position setting the LED has not turned green the ambient temperature may...

Page 14: ...ocal reducer Focuser Dual speed crayford style with 10 1 reduction and lock Eyepiece side 2 24 UNS SCT thread 1 25 female drawtube via included adapter with brass compression ring to protect eyepiece Mounting foot Vixen style dovetail with two 20 holes Power USB power 5v 1 5amp female Micro B connector Power is required for proper operation Wall adapter 90 240VAC wall adapter includes US UK Euro a...

Page 15: ...recycling Business users should contact their supplier and check the terms and conditions of the purchase contract This product should not be mixed with other commercial wastes disposal Copyright This manual copyright DayStar Filters 2015 all rights reserved This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device pursuant to part 15 of the FCC Rules These li...

Page 16: ... warranty at any time while this warranty is in effect warrantor will repair the defect and return it to you without charge for parts service or any cost incurred by the warrantor in connection with the performance of this warranty THE FIVE YEAR WARRANTY SET FORTH ABOVE IS THE SOLE AND ENTIRE WARRANTY PERTAINING TO THE PRODUCT AND IS IN LIEU OF AND EXCLUDES ALL OTHER WARRANTIES OF ANY NATURE WHATS...

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