Readily Available Long Focal Length Refractors

Use this section to discuss "standard" Baader/Coronado/ Lunt SolarView/ Daystar, etc… filters, cameras and scopes. No mods, just questions/ answers and reviews.
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DeepSolar64
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Re: Readily Available Long Focal Length Refractors

Post by DeepSolar64 »

It should work really well, seeing permitting.


Lunt 8x32 SUNoculars
Orion 70mm Solar Telescope
Celestron AstroMaster Alt/Az Mount
Meade Coronado SolarMax II 60 DS
Meade Coronado SolarMax II 90 DS
Meade Coronado AZS Alt/Az Mount
Astro-Tech AT72EDII with Altair solar wedge
Celestron NexStar 102GT with Altair solar wedge
Losmandy AZ8 Alt/Az Mount
Sky-Watcher AZGTI Alt-Az GoTo mount
Cameras: ZWO ASI178MM, PGR Grasshopper, PGR Flea
Lunt, Coronado, TeleVue, Orion and Meade eyepieces

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Re: Readily Available Long Focal Length Refractors

Post by krakatoa1883 »

Mark,

based on my experience - and yours, I understand - a long refractor with an aperture stop will always be better than a refractor with the same focal length and just that aperture. Stopping down means that only the best corrected part of the glass is working and one can also change the stop diameter to match the seeing. For me this is the way as already suggested by Marty.

As pointed out by Bob a newtonian would be a fine alternative, I have made one myself and in spite is a f/5 it works very well. Skywatcher produces a 150 mm f/8 with parabolic mirror and a modest obstruction that is sold by TS for less than 250 euro. Take this one, de-aluminize the primary, replace the closed tube with a truss structure and you'll have a fantastic solar scope for WL and CaK. You would only need a 2x amplifier to get f/16.


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My solar images and reports with articles on solar equipment
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Re: Readily Available Long Focal Length Refractors

Post by DeepSolar64 »

My Criterion 6"F8 reflector works wonderfully on the planets and moon. WL solar would also be outstanding, seeing permitting.


Lunt 8x32 SUNoculars
Orion 70mm Solar Telescope
Celestron AstroMaster Alt/Az Mount
Meade Coronado SolarMax II 60 DS
Meade Coronado SolarMax II 90 DS
Meade Coronado AZS Alt/Az Mount
Astro-Tech AT72EDII with Altair solar wedge
Celestron NexStar 102GT with Altair solar wedge
Losmandy AZ8 Alt/Az Mount
Sky-Watcher AZGTI Alt-Az GoTo mount
Cameras: ZWO ASI178MM, PGR Grasshopper, PGR Flea
Lunt, Coronado, TeleVue, Orion and Meade eyepieces

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MapleRidge
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Re: Readily Available Long Focal Length Refractors

Post by MapleRidge »

The iStar OTA is big but I'll bet the views are amazing! My 6"f8 version is big enough...I don't think that scope would fit in the dome :lol:

Brian


Brian Colville

Maple Ridge Observatory
Cambray, ON Canada

Photos: https://www.flickr.com/photos/185395281@N08/albums

10'x15 Roll-off Roof Observatory
Takahashi EM400 Mount carrying:
C14 + Lunt 80ED
Deep Sky Work - ASI294MM Pro+EFW 7x36/Canon 60D (Ha mod), ONAG
Planetary Work - SBIG CFW10, ASI462MM

2.2m Diameter Dome
iOptron CEM70G Mount carrying:
Orion EON 130ED, f7 OTA for Day & Night Use
Ha Setup: Lunt LS80PT/LS75FHa/B1200Ha + Home Brew Lunt Double Stack/B1800Ha on the Orion OTA + Daystar Quantum
WL, G-Band & CaK Setup: Lunt Wedge & Lunt B1800CaK, Baader K-Line and Altair 2nm G-Band filter
ASI1600MM, ASI432MM, ASI294MM Pro, ASI174MM, ASI462MM
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MapleRidge
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Re: Readily Available Long Focal Length Refractors

Post by MapleRidge »

My bad, I forgot that it hadn't been out of the box!

Brian


Brian Colville

Maple Ridge Observatory
Cambray, ON Canada

Photos: https://www.flickr.com/photos/185395281@N08/albums

10'x15 Roll-off Roof Observatory
Takahashi EM400 Mount carrying:
C14 + Lunt 80ED
Deep Sky Work - ASI294MM Pro+EFW 7x36/Canon 60D (Ha mod), ONAG
Planetary Work - SBIG CFW10, ASI462MM

2.2m Diameter Dome
iOptron CEM70G Mount carrying:
Orion EON 130ED, f7 OTA for Day & Night Use
Ha Setup: Lunt LS80PT/LS75FHa/B1200Ha + Home Brew Lunt Double Stack/B1800Ha on the Orion OTA + Daystar Quantum
WL, G-Band & CaK Setup: Lunt Wedge & Lunt B1800CaK, Baader K-Line and Altair 2nm G-Band filter
ASI1600MM, ASI432MM, ASI294MM Pro, ASI174MM, ASI462MM
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