Daystar: QUARK the first Hydrogen Alpha "Eyepiece" ?

[GeorgeIonas]

Hi All,

I have just come across this on the Daystar website about their new Hydrogen Alpha "eyepiece" called the "Quark". It seems that it will be released on the 14th of April and will be available at NEAF - price $995. There are two types of "eyepieces" available, one for looking and I presume imaging the Chromosphere and the other for prominences. Also, it seems that there is no limit on what aperture scope one uses.

http://www.daystarfilters.com/Quark.shtml

Does this mean that our full aperture Etalons could now be obsolete?

Your views and comments from those in the know would be much appreciated.

George

[Derek Klepp]

I,d be dubious putting it on anything over 80 mm.Perhaps the Daystar rep could expand on this.

[GeorgeIonas]

Derek,

Daystar does not mention the need of an ERF. Maybe there is some new technology involved?

George

[marktownley]

Interesting! You could bung in a PST etalon in there and get it double stacked to show some proper surface detail.

[GeorgeIonas]

Or alternatively, use the Quark Eyepiece for double stacking or better still remove the internal ERF and use it on a solar scope for double stacking.

George

[solarchat]

George,
Please send all of your obsolete, old, useless full aperture etalons to me and I will replace them with the new Daystar eyepiece...lol

[Merlin66]

The DayStar web site still says an ERF is required with all their Ha filters.....

[Sunwatcher]

Hummm....is this one of those, "if it's to good to be true then it isn't", things?

[Merlin66]

Well it did go up on the 1st April.........

[GeorgeIonas]

Nice try Stephen. I think that I was asking the question will this make our Etalons obsolete ?

Ken: Well... over were we are it is the 2nd of April. Maybe it is an April Fool's Joke?

Sun watcher: Yes, too good to be true.

I see the announcement is also posted on AstroMart's classifieds under the Solar Section as well.

http://www.astromart.com/classifieds/de ... _id=851461

George

[MapleRidge]

Hi all...

I received an e-mail from Daystar on this today as well, and caught the adds on Astromart, their website, and reference to having them at NEAF next weekend too. Pretty nervy for an April Fools gag in my opinion

Brian

[axlefoley]

Ken: Well... over were we are it is the 2nd of April. Maybe it is an April Fool's Joke?


George

I think it is in Australia to George,,,,,, Ken may be able to confirm this.

Alan

[swisswalter]

Hi George


very interesting. I have ordered one of each type, we will see what happens ;-)

[Valery]

This is all possible. I believe, that this is the answer for all these PST mods. It is easy to make a powerful tele centric Barlow and small Ha filter in one package.
If this a real device, then I predict the prices fall off for all these DS II modules, small front etalons etc.

[GeorgeIonas]

Walter, I wait with anticipation on the results that you will get. Perhaps an in depth review is called for here.

If the Quark can be used on other scopes with no aperture limit and no external ERF then at $995 it is a bargain.

Valery, I agree with you, if the Quark works out O.K. the I would presume that all of the DS II modules and front Etalon prices will drop.

What ever the case, I for one will do nothing until Walter tests both types.

George

[Carbon60]

It's down to you, Walter.....no pressure.

Interesting!

Stu.

[dedo]

I really think we still are at the very down of amateur solar observing technology.
The new device from Daystar is really interesting for me.

[pedro]

Introducing the Quark. The first Hydrogen Alpha "Eyepiece"!

Has anyone tried it yet?

http://www.daystarfilters.com/Quark.shtml

[Nick]

Only available 1st April?

Concern here is (a) a pezval's rear elements would probably die from thermal shock, (b) any elbow would also probably melt..

Also thread on it here already http://solarchat.natca.net/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=10975

[pedro]

Hi Nick:

I know that it will available at the next NEAF (12/4/2014). I could not understand if a ERF is required...

best regards

[pedro]

Maybe it is an April Fool's Joke...

There is another thread on this Quark eyepiece

[Nick]

Hehe Pentax and Televue will release new EPs - they can't be outdone in the cost & weight stakes!

[Sunwatcher]

Hi George


very interesting. I have ordered one of each type, we will see what happens ;-)

Way to go Walter. No matter which way this turns out you get another "Man Card"!

[solarchat]

Well, we will see. I will be at NEAF next weekend and hopefully they will have this setup for people to look through. Competition can only help the industry and the user. Daystar and Lunt are among the VERY few astro companies here in America who haven't sold out to the Chinese yet also so I am rooting for them to do good things.

I don't really see a lot of difference between this and the standard rear mounted etalon with internal erf which they already sell except for the massive price reduction and the fact that it is one unit instead of a few separate pieces and that it goes after the diagonal instead of in front of it.

I can see someone rolling out their giant refractor with this thing on it with the focus still set for standard night time accessories and sitting there trying to figure it out as their diagonal melts.

[swisswalter]

Hi Chaps


I'll Report when the goods arrive and the sun shines. My understanding is that DAYSTAR recommends an ERF.