Altair Imaging Ready 2 Inch Solar Herschel Wedge V2

Further details

Key Features:
Wide brightness adjustment range allows imaging AND visual use - in one unit.
High quality, large prism.
Anti Reflection (AR) coated prism and polariser.
46mm clear aperture.
Quick, easy centering of the sun with glowing spot on rear diffuser.
Does not become as hot as other models, thanks to rear energy diffuser.
2" "Positive Lock" compression ring for fast accessory changes.
Includes 2"-1.25" adapter.
Sturdy CNC machined casing to hold heavy binoviewers or a DSLR camera, filter wheel etc.

Safe and easy to use: Unlike cheaper solar wedges which overheat or worse, direct excess energy downwards into the ground, the Altair Imaging-Ready Solar Wedge directs energy into a special extra thick Polycrystalline Ceramic diffuzer disc at the back of the Wedge. Air vents allow air circulation by convection. The Polycrystalline disc has the added benefit of acting like a "solar finder". The sun appears as a "ball of light" on the back of the disc - simply move your telescope until the ball of light is in the centre of the disc, and you are aligned with the sun!

One wedge does it all! Both solar photography or visual observation: Often solar wedges don't give enough light for high speed exposures needed to "freeze" air-motion for a sharp image. The Altair Solar Wedge has an AR coated internal polarising filter, which let's you control the brightness of the image. Brightness can be increased or decreased by rotating the top assembly, then locking it in the desired position with a side thumbscrew. Variable brightness is very important both for visual and imaging use, to fine tune the ideal exposure time, or the ideal contrast levels at the eyepiece - especially when adding a colour filter such as a green continuum filter for extra contrast. Unlike other makes, the Altair Solar Wedge enables both visual and imaging applications without having to change internal filters. With the solar wedge in "bright" mode, exposure times as low as 2 milliseconds are routinely possible with high speed CMOS cameras like the Altair Hypercam or GPCAM. This effectively "freezes" the seeing (air movement) resulting in an incredibly sharp image.

Altair Solar Wedge Questions and answers:

Q: How do I observe the sun safely with a telescope and filter or Solar Wedge? If you view the sun through a telescope or binoculars without a professional filter product, immediate and permanent eye damage will result. This has discouraged people from exploring this fascinating subject, however observing the sun is perfectly safe, provided you use your filter equipment correctly. Each wedge ships with instructions which must be read and understood completely before using the product. Never allow children to observe the sun with a telescope and wedge or filter without the supervision of a knowledgeable adult. Never remove a solar filter or wedge without first placing the front lens cap on the telescope. Always securely fasten solar filters or Solar Wedge securely to the telescope. Always remove any optical finder from the telescope before pointing it at the sun because you could inadvertently look through it. (Use the safe Altair solar finder with Solar Filters or Wedge. Code: SOLARFINDER).

Q: How do I set up the Altair Solar Wedge safely?

A: Safe setup procedure:
With the front objective lens caps still in place. Remove the finder scope from the telescope and replace it with a safe non-optical solar finder such as the Altair Solar Finder. (Code: SOLARFINDER)
Add the Solar Wedge in place of your existing 2" diagonal mirror. Screw the included Neutral density filter into the base of a low-power 1.25" eyepiece and insert it into the included 1.25" eyepiece holder on the back of the Solar Wedge.
Point the telescope at the sun until it's centred in the solar-finder.
Remove the front lens cap from the telescope. A glowing ball of light should appear on the translucent disc on the rear of the Altair Solar Wedge. Move the telescope so the glowing ball of light is centred on the disc.
Approach the telescope, and look through the eyepiece. If the image is too bright, loosen the locking thumbscrew and turn the turret top until it's a little dim. Fasten the locking screw in this position and remove the eyepiece. Remove the neutral density filter and replace the eyepiece.
You can now fine-tune the brightness further by rotating the turret-top and locking it. You will find that high power eyepieces require a little additional brightness compared to low power ones, which is normal.

Q: What telescopes can I use with a Solar Herschel Wedge? A: Only refracting telescopes up to 6" (152mm) aperture can be used with the Altair Herschel Solar Wedge. Refracting telescopes have a front objective lens, and rear eyepiece. It is dangerous to use ANY telescope with mirrors with a Herschel Solar Wedge due to the risk of fire and excessive heat from reflections within the tube. This includes Maksutov Cassegrains, Schmidt Cassegrains, Newtonians and Ritchey Chretiens, amongst others.

Q: Can I used coloured filters like solar continuum filters with the Altair Solar Wedge? A: Yes you can but only if added AFTER the wedge. NEVER add ANY filter in front of a Solar Wedge because it will crack or melt due to the concentrated heat from the sun, damaging the inside of your telescope.

Q: How do I SAFELY "tune" the image brightness to get the best view or image? A: When imaging the sun using "lucky" imaging techniques with a high frame rate camera, it's best to keep the exposure duration of the camera as short as possible - ideally under 10 milliseconds, though less than 5ms is even better. This has the benefit of "freezing" the air movement or "seeing" to show granulation and other extreme detail. Being designed for visual or imaging use, the internal polariser module has a wider brightness range than normal Hershel wedges. When set for fast frame rates, the image can appear very bright visually through an eyepiece - like looking at a light bulb. Therefore, a 1.25" neutral density filter is provided, which transmits 75% of light, blocking 25% for initial focusing and setup with an eyepiece. When you first set up the Wedge and align it with the sun, you need to add the provided 1.25" Neutral Density filter to the eyepiece, then rotate the turret-top until the image is quite dim. Then lock the turret top in position with the side-thumbscrew, without turining it and changing the brightness. Once locked in position, you can then remove the neutral density filter, and make final small adjustments. Once you are satisfied with the balance of contrast and sharpness, lock the polariser locking thumbscrew, and you are ready to observe. If using the wedge for imaging only, you can just insert the camera and turn the turret-top until you are satisfied with the exposure duration and gain settings.

Q: For how long can you keep the wedge aimed at the sun? One issue with cheaper Hershel Wedges is overheating. The Altair Solar Wedge has been fully tested with the sun remaining in the centre of the field of view for 5 hours of continual exposure with a 6" aperture refractor in mid summer in the UK - without significant heat build-up. At no point did the outer prism housing become too hot to touch, a problem we have often experienced with cheaper wedges.

Delivery charge £5.95

Reviews

  Great Quality, great performance.  This wedge is fantastic. Has a nice weight to it and a very sturdy build quality. As another customer mentioned, i left my scope mounted on my Star Adventuter and i went in for a brew. Came out after 20mins and the wedge was still cool. Great CS as always from Harrisons T. Thankyou.  (30/10/2022) D Smith - Kent

  Love it!  This is an excellent product, very nicely made and finished. Way better than using Mylar film. I got the photo version. Left it running on a 3 inch refractor for ages and it barely got warm. Shows up sunspot and granulation detail really well. Larger and heavier than it looks in the picture.  (20/12/2021) Steve - Brighton UK

  1st class product and service  I'm delighted with this product and the service from Harrison Telescopes Ltd. Just wish the clouds would stay away!   (12/09/2017) Peter Gunn - Telford, Shropshire

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