Sky-Watcher Heliostar 76mm H-Alpha Solar Telescope (or Kit)
Sky-Watcher Heliostar 76mm H-Alpha Solar Telescope (or Kit)
Package - OTA Only
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Product Description
Introducing the Sky-Watcher Heliostar 76mm H-Alpha Solar Telescope
The Heliostar 76mm H-alpha Solar Telescope brings a new light (yes, pun intended) to the Sky-Watcher family by offering a dedicated Hydrogen-alpha (Hα) solar telescope to the lineup. Hydrogen-alpha solar observing allows you to unlock the incredible dynamics of surface of the Sun far beyond what a white light solar filter can deliver. From solar prominences on the limb of the Sun (often mistakenly called 'flares'), to active sunspot regions, bright plage patches, surface granulation, wispy, snake-like plasma filaments, and more, the star of the solar system is yours to capture in breathtaking views and images.
Just in time to catch solar maximum in 2025!!
Special: get the SolarQuest Mount Kit for a Discount!
This telescope is available with a SolarQuest Kit, which includes the user-friendly SolarQuest mount at a discount!
The Official Solar Telescope of the Charlie Bates Solar Astronomy Project
Founded in 2008, The Charlie Bates Solar Astronomy Project has taught observational solar astronomy and narrowband solar imaging to hundreds of thousands of people in 27 countries.
Double the Fun
The Heliostar 76mm Hα Solar Telescope provides incredible double stack performance for the price of one etalon filter. There is no need for costly double stack systems, Heliostar 76Hα is tuned to <0.55Å natively providing rich surface detail and with its 76mm aperture high resolution viewing and imaging is easily obtainable.
Safety Information
The Sky-Watcher Heliostar 76mm H-Alpha Solar Telescope has been lab tested here in the United States to meet the ISO 12312-2 safety standards. Each scope is tested one by one on the actual Sun to make sure each unit is ready for safe solar viewing right out of the box.
This is a dedicated solar telescope and will not provide views or images of anything except for the Sun. Please use an abundance of caution when observing the Sun as incorrect usage and practices can result in serious and even permanent eye damage.
Also, the 11.5mm blocking filter in the removable eyepiece diagonal is part of Heliostar's safety features. Do not use with any other type of diagonal.
Hydrogen Alpha Technology
Hydrogen Alpha (Hα) solar telescopes are specialized instruments used to observe the Sun in a specific wavelength of light—656.3 nm—which corresponds to the red line in the Balmer series of hydrogen’s emission spectrum. This wavelength is critical for studying solar phenomena like prominences, filaments, sunspots, and solar flares in great detail. Unlike standard white-light telescopes, which capture the Sun's broad spectrum, Hα solar telescopes offer a window into specific solar activity in the chromosphere, a layer of the Sun's atmosphere located just above the photosphere.
Etalon Filter Technology
At the heart of most Hydrogen Alpha solar telescopes lies the etalon filter, a highly precise optical device that isolates the Hα wavelength from the rest of the Sun’s emitted light. An etalon is a type of interferometer, consisting of two parallel mirrors separated by a precise distance. The etalon works by reflecting light multiple times between the mirrors, selectively allowing only wavelengths that satisfy specific resonance conditions to pass through.
In the case of Hα solar telescopes, the etalon is designed to transmit light at the Hα wavelength while blocking all other wavelengths. The key to the etalon’s performance lies in its ability to tune the wavelength it transmits. This is achieved by adjusting the distance between the mirrors or by slightly tilting the etalon, which changes the interference conditions. This tunability is crucial because the Sun's emission at Hα can shift slightly due to Doppler effects as material moves across the Sun’s surface and atmosphere.
There are two primary types of etalon filters used in solar telescopes: single etalon and double etalon systems. The Heliostar 76 uses Solis Elaton Technology to get double-stack performance, with only single-stack price.
- Single Etalon: A single etalon filter typically has a wider bandpass, and the single filter means better transmission and a brighter image. The downside is less contrast within the solar details.
- Double Etalon: A double etalon system uses two etalon filters in tandem to provide a narrower bandpass, and enhance the contrast and image clarity across the image. Two filters necessarily means less total transmission, so the image will be darker. Double etalon systems are preferred for more detailed solar studies because they can offer more contrast and reveal finer structures.
- Solis Etalon Technology: Sky-Watcher's Solis technology allows the Heliostar to achieve a 0.55A bandpass without the costly expense and complexity of a second etalon to achieve the same performance. This allows the observer to obtain detailed images of the solar disk right out of the box without any further expense.
- Trifid Tuner: Inside the Heliostar is Sky-Watcher's Trifid tuning system. This tuner applies physical pressure to the etalon plates allowing the observer to reach the desired Hydrogen-band. The Trifid tuner uses three support veins to provide a secure tuning for the etalon.
What's in the Box
Specifications
| SKU | S11310 |
| UPC | 050234113106 |
| Optical Specifications | |
| Optical Design | Achromatic |
| Lens Coating | H-alpha fully multicoated |
| Lens Design | Doublet |
| Optical Quality | Diffraction limited (1/4 wave) |
| Collimatable Cell | No (Self Aligning Cell) |
| Primary Aperture | 76mm |
| F/Ratio | 8.3 |
| Focal Length | 630mm |
| Blocking Filter Size | 11.5mm |
| Solar Image Size | 6mm |
| Bandpass | <0.55Å |
| Mechanical Specifications | |
| Focuser Type | Crayford |
| Focuser Size | 2" |
| Focuser: Dual or Single Speed | Dual speed |
| Compression Ring | No* (Only on diagonal) |
| OTA material | Aluminum |
| Optical Tube length (inches) | 24" |
| Optical Tube weight (pounds) | 8.4 pounds |
| Mounting Rings? | Mounting Rings |
| Dovetail type | V-style |
| Accessories | |
| Eyepieces | 20mm 70º 1.25" eyepiece |
| Diagonal | 11.5mm 1.25" H-alpha blocking diagonal |
| Camera Adapter | Cell phone adapter |
| Additonal Accessories | Sun shade |
| Included finder | Heliostar solar finder |
| Manual | Digital PDF |
| Case | Yes |
| Observational Info | |
| Dawes Limit | 1.52 |
| Rayleigh Limit | 1.84 |
| Limiting Magnitude | 11.88 |
| Minimum Magnification | 7x |
| Maximum Magnification | 150x |
| Magnification with included eyepieces | 32x |
| Intended use | Solar (visual & Imaging) |
What can I see with a Sky-Watcher Heliostar 76mm H-Alpha Solar Telescope (or Kit)?
Here are some simulated views of common objects. Results with your telescope will vary with viewing conditions, obrits, equipment and more.
Jupiter with
25mm Eyepiece - 25x Magnification
(Sold Separately)
Jupiter with
10mm Eyepiece - 63x Magnification
Sold Separately
Jupiter with
5mm Eyepiece - 126x Magnification
Sold Separately
Moon with 25mm Eyepiece
25x Magnification
(Sold Separately)
Moon with 10mm Eyepiece
63x Magnification
Sold Separately
Moon with 5mm Eyepiece
126x Magnification
Sold Separately
Andromeda with 36mm Eyepiece
18x Magnification
Sold Separately
Andromeda with 25mm Eyepiece
25x Magnification
(Sold Separately)
Andromeda with 10mm Eyepiece
63x Magnification
Sold Separately
Additional Articles, Videos, and Links
Go Ahead, Look at the Sun (With the Right Equipment)
Solar observation and solar photography are a lot of fun with the right equipment, and this is a great time to start. Every 11 years the Sun’s magnetic field completely flips. That means that the...
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