Product Description

Now equipped with Lunt’s newer, higher-performing etalons, these telescopes deliver a tighter ≤0.35Å FWHM per etalon, improved from the previous ~0.55Å design. In double-stack configuration, system bandwidth drops to approximately 0.22Å for even greater contrast and finer solar surface detail.

The LS50THa Solar Starter puts serious hydrogen-alpha capability in your hands at Lunt's most accessible price point for a pressure-tuned instrument. Fifty millimeters of unobstructed aperture with an internal pressure-tuned etalon delivers <0.65Å bandpass: tight enough to reveal prominences arcing off the limb, filaments snaking across the disk, and active regions alive with magnetic detail.

Pressure tuning is what sets the LS50THa apart. A turn of the knob shifts the etalon bandpass smoothly across the entire aperture, letting you scan through the chromosphere in depth. Watch prominences brighten as you tune toward the blue wing, then shift to the red and watch surface structure sharpen into focus. It is the feature that transforms solar observing from looking at the Sun to exploring it.

At just over 3 pounds with a 350mm f/7 optical system, the LS50THa travels effortlessly. The integrated clamshell mounting base accepts the included Vixen dovetail for any compatible mount, or sits securely on a photo tripod. The SunLock red dot finder gets you on-target safely in seconds. The 12mm flat-field eyepiece, coated with the same 0.1% AR coatings we use on our etalons, provides 29x magnification for detailed views of surface activity and limb prominences.

What You'll See

The chromosphere in hydrogen-alpha light is a place of constant drama. Prominences, towering arcs and loops of plasma, rise off the limb and hang suspended against the blackness of space. Some are stable for hours; others erupt and reshape before your eyes. Filaments trace dark, sinuous paths across the disk where magnetic field lines suspend plasma above the surface. Active regions glow with concentrated energy, marking the zones where the Sun's magnetic field is most intense. With pressure tuning, you do not just see these features; you explore them. Adjust the tuner knob and watch the view shift in real time. The effect is three-dimensional: you are scanning through the chromosphere in depth, watching structures appear and recede as you move through the spectral line.

Why This Package

Everything you need. Nothing you don't. Ready to observe straight from the case. The LS50THa Solar Starter is your fastest path to pressure-tuned hydrogen-alpha observing. The integrated clamshell base means setup takes minutes. The helical focuser provides smooth, precise focus control. The B400 blocking filter and SunLock finder complete the system. Unpack, mount, and you are watching the chromosphere.

Package Includes

• LS50THa OTA w/ Clamshell: 50mm aperture, 350mm FL, f/7. Internal pressure-tuned etalon (Doppler True), <0.65Å bandpass. Unobstructed aperture. Integrated clamshell mounting base.
• B400 Blocking Filter: 4mm clear aperture, 1.25" diagonal. Proprietary filter stack for safe visual H-alpha observation.
• Helical Focuser: 1.25", included with OTA. Smooth, precise focus control.
• SunLock Red Dot Finder: Attached to clamshell. Red dot projection onto glass reticle. Safe solar targeting in seconds.
• 4" Vixen Dovetail: Attached to clamshell. Universal mount compatibility.
• 12mm Flat-Field Eyepiece: 1.25" barrel. 60° FOV. 0.1% AR coatings (etalon-grade). 29x on LS50THa.
• Hard Case w/ Fitted Foam: Custom foam insert. Protection that travels.