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DayStar Combo Quark Chromosphere Filter

(Only 1 Left)
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SKU: DAY-DSZCC
$1,295.00
 

DayStar Combo Quark H-Alpha Chromosphere Filter

The fully loaded Daystar Combo Quark incorporates the high quality elements of adapters, snouts, and the Daystar Hydrogen-Alpha filter into a simple, lightweight, eyepiece-sized device. As a result of their fully optimized design, users can now experience DayStar's supreme quality optics for a reasonable price. Allows SCT, Maksutov, and f/15 to f/30 refractor owners to enjoy the quick and easy fun of the original Quark filter without having to be concerned about adapter configurations. Simply install the Quark into your diagonal, add an eyepiece, and view.

  • Schmidt-Cassegrain and Maksutov users will need to purchase an Energy Rejection Filter from Daystar that is specialized for their telescope to enable safe operation.
  • In order to obtain maximum performance, SCT owners must use a front mount, off-axis, aperture reduced Energy Rejection Filter (ERF). This front mount ERF will produce a slower focal ratio via aperture reduction while preventing heat accumulation within the optical tube.
  • While aperture reduction for Maksutov owners operating at a native ~f/15 focal ratio is not necessary, a front mount Energy Rejection Filter must still be used to avoid overheating the OTA.
  • Exact filter bandpass will differ depending on the final telescope application, so QUARK filters are able to show either prominences or surface detail (chromosphere). This is a chromosphere model. No particular FWHM bandpass is specified.
  • The arrangement of this new, compact design eliminates superfluous components, reducing weight and cost.
  • Baffles have been added to enhance contrast with AR coatings optimized for the 656 nm H-Alpha wavelength. Daystar has even lowered the amount of power the Quark consumes, allowing it to function all day using only a compact battery pack (sold separately) that fits in the palm of your hand.
  • Not suitable for use with full aperture Schmidt-Cassegrains as your secondary mirror may be damaged as a result. SCT's muse use a separately sold off-axis ERF.

DayStar Combo Quark H-Alpha Chromosphere Filter Highlights

  • 1.25" male eyepiece snout in front with safety indent fits directly into your diagonal or focuser.
  • Comes with a 2º off-axis 1.25" snout adapter for use with off-axis Schmidt-Cassegrain and Maksutov ERFs.
  • Standard 1.25" rear female eyepiece drawtube output with 2" accessories available as a separate option.
  • Brass compression ring protects your eyepiece from damage. Uses USB power, 5v 1.5 amp.
  • 90-240VAC wall adapter with international plug adapters is included.
  • Tuning knob enables wing shifting +/- 0.5Ã with detents at every 0.1Å LED indicator for power, warming, ready, fault.
  • Incorporates 25 mm blocking filter with 21 mm clear aperture.
  • Includes no barlow lenses or focusing elements. This is a zero power filter unit only.
  • Optimally equipped for f/15 - f/30 refractors, full aperture Maksutovs, or SCTs and Maks with an off-axis, aperture reduced Energy Rejection Filter (ERF).
  • Full disk viewing capability with refractors that have focal lengths of up to approximately 1800 mm.
  • Does not have aperture restrictions and may be employed on larger refractors to allow higher magnification views.
  • Delivered in a convenient twist-off storage case to prevent dust accumulation between uses.

What About Your Finderscope?

Adding this solar filter to your telescope will adequately filter the light coming through your focuser, but have you considered what you’ll do about your finder scope?

Here are some suggestions for dealing with your finder that will assure you do not damage your eyes (or anyone else’s) by looking at the Sun through your telescope’s unfiltered finder:

  • Remove Your Finder. Ditching your finderscope when solar viewing will remove the possibility of someone accidentally looking through it to spot the Sun. Of course, not having a finder makes centering the Sun in your eyepiece more difficult, but with practice, it can be done. Set the mount down so the telescope is pointing in the direction of the Sun. Put the main solar filter on so you can check your progress, and then move the telescope around until it casts a shadow that produces a nice, sharp silhouette of the scope. The OTA will look circular. Now move your telescope up or down with your hand controller, slow motion controls, or very carefully by hand if required while looking through the eyepiece. You will not get a warning when you are close, but you should be able to align with the Sun using this method. Practice ahead of time before any big event, like an eclipse, to make sure you’ve got the process down.
  • Filter Your Optical Finder. This solution is not recommended for a reflex or red dot finder since it is too easy to accidentally look around the window. If you have one of these finders we recommend you either remove it or replace it with a dedicated solar finder (see below). To make your optical finderscope safe for solar viewing you’ll need to buy a piece of Baader Solar Film for Visual Use. This film comes in different size sheets and cuts easily with scissors, allowing you to make your own filter. You can go super low-tech and use a rubber band to hold a piece of the film firmly around the finder or you can get fancy and build your own slip-on solar filter. However you attach the solar film, you need to make sure there are no light leaks at all and that it doesn’t accidentally fall off when you move your telescope around. Any unused film can store flat between two pieces of cardboard and will keep for years. It is nice to have around, just in case of a solar emergency :-)
  • Buy a Dedicated Solar Finder. Check out the Tele Vue Sol-Searcher Solar Finder. This special finder can only be used when observing the Sun, but it works very well. The Sol-Searcher is reasonably priced and can be attached to your telescope with Velcro or with #10-32 screws (user supplied).