Did you participate in National Astronomy Day with your Lunt system?  Well we would like to see pictures of your event!  Pictures will be posted on our blog!  Please send all pictures to k.legore@luntsolarsystems.com and tell us a little about your event!

As the end of the year quickly comes to a close things begin to change; many of us think over the past year and look towards the holiday season for a time of giving and warmth.  Well here at Lunt Solar we decided to do a little giving this year.

As many people know our Newtonian based LS200THa solar scope never made it to the market and for the passed year the optics and tubes have remained in storage.  Well in mid-October 2010 the scopes were officially donated to Stephen Ramsden and his out reach organization known as the Charlie Bates Solar Astronomy Project.  These scopes will be distributed as kit projects to Georgia schools to help further the education in science and astronomy!  We are quite pleased to know that these scopes will be used for a good purpose.  Stephen would like to thank Andy Lunt, Rikki Hocking, Brian Stephens, Alan Traino, Theo Ramakers, Frank Garner, Tim Nix and Tom Sewell for helping making this awesome project come together.

Below are some pictures of the first kit donated being put together:

To learn more about the Charlie Bates Solar Astronomy Project please visit their website at www.charliebates.org

About Lunt Solar Systems LLC…

Lunt Solar Systems is a manufacturing and sales facility located in Tucson, Arizona. Lunt Solar design, fabricate, assemble, and test solar telescopes and solar filters. Whether you are looking for a dedicated solar telescope or a solar filter for attachment to you own astronomy telescope, we can help. Solar telescopes models start at $499 for an LS35T (telescope) or the only slightly more expensive LS50F (filter), all the way thru the LS152T and even the LS230T. Solar observing is both fun and educational. Don’t miss out on Solar Maximum.

There was quite a solar array at this years All Arizona Star Party!  Brian and myself (Kevin) had a fun time just relaxing but also sharing our solar scopes with anyone who was interested in a look.  Along with our friends Jerry F. and Alan S. we had nearly seven solar telescopes!  Our array consisted of a Double Stacked LS60THa with our new LS60F filter, the new LS80THa DSII, an LS100THa, two LS152THa, a TEC140 with a 2″ Solar Wedge, and a Tele Vue Ranger with a LS B1200CaK blocker!

LS100THa, LS80THa DSII, and LS152THa tracking the sun.

Alan trying out the new LS60FHa on his LS60THa Pressure Tune.  (Photo by Alan S.)

On Saturday we observed an M-Class solar flare rip its through the solar surface, Jerry and Alan had a hard time sketching it due to the rapid changes!  People seemed to enjoy having some solar scopes out to use during the day as well, we hope you enjoyed it as much as we did!  Thanks for stopping by!

There were alot of outdoor activities going on in Tucson this weekend.

The weather is finally in the lower 80′s and being outdoors this time of year feels great. The heat is gone.

The skies were clear and transparent. Several of the local High Schools had put on a craft fair and car show. This was done to raise money for the School Graduation Fund. The fund was created so that graduating students could have a safe, drug free party to attend.

My wife Jennifer was attending the event as a vendor. She is a Licensed Massage Therapist that specializes in Prenatal and Sports Injury management.  (luck me :) She was offering chair massage to all the stressed out parents..
I was initially just planning on helping out with the booth, but saw a great opportunity to do some educational outreach with the kids. Unlike typical astronomy events that I attend, it did take a little more encouragment from me to get people interested in the solar scope. However, a few ooowws and ahhhs later, I had a short line of takers. For those that could observe this weekend, you also had a chance to view a fairly active Sun..

The mascot above is the Tucson Toro. The Toros are a local Baseball team.

While I know that most of the kids that took a look thru the scope had never looked at the Sun before, that is to be expected. I like to provide just a little education about the Sun while they are looking thru the scope.. Wether they know it or not, they will walk away with just a little more knowledge.

This gentleman came over to take a look.. He was amazed at what he saw and I loved his comment.. “I am 71 years old, and there is very little I haven’t seen. It’s always a great day when, even at my age, I get to experience something new and wonderful”.
For about the next 20 mins we chatted about everything Solar. About 10 minutes after he left, another couple of Sheriffs came by. They had been told to check out the scope at the school.. Very cool!!

All in all it was a great day. I have been invited back to do some “SAFE” outreach events. I am probably going to put together a small presentation about Solar education and some Solar safety tips…  

I would certainly suggest that anyone who owns a Solar scope and a small mount go out to their local events and simply set up. It’s a great way to share the hobby and make connections with people in your community.

About Lunt Solar Systems LLC…

Lunt Solar Systems is a manufacturing and sales facility located in Tucson, Arizona. Lunt Solar design, fabricate, assemble, and test solar telescopes and solar filters. Whether you are looking for a dedicated solar telescope or a solar filter for attachment to you own astronomy telescope, we can help. Solar telescopes models start at $499 for an LS35T (telescope) or the only slightly more expensive LS50F (filter), all the way thru the LS152T and even the LS230T. Solar observing is both fun and educational. Don’t miss out on Solar Maximum.

Yes, this is a little change of pace for Lunt Solar System, an image of the moon?

Well last week well known Solar Outreach guru and imager Stephen Ramsden of Charlie Bates Solar Astronomy Project aimed his 127EDT refractor at the nearly full moon and capture the 10 frame mosaic below.

Now I’m sure many of you are asking, what does this have to do with Lunt and solar astronomy?  Well this entire image was taken through a Lunt 2″ Solar Wedge!  The Solar Wedge was used without an of its polarizing filters as the wedge does all the work, most of the light passes through the wedge like it would with the sun passing only a fraction of the light up to the camera.  The final image was stitched using iMerge to give a beautiful Lunar Mosaic!

To see more images from Stephen as well as pictures from his countless solar out reach events please see his website: Charlie Bates Solar Astronomy Project

We love getting images from our users so please continue to send them in!

About Lunt Solar Systems LLC…

Lunt Solar Systems is a manufacturing and sales facility located in Tucson, Arizona. Lunt Solar design, fabricate, assemble, and test solar telescopes and solar filters. Whether you are looking for a dedicated solar telescope or a solar filter for attachment to you own astronomy telescope, we can help. Solar telescopes models start at $499 for an LS35T (telescope) or the only slightly more expensive LS50F (filter), all the way thru the LS152T and even the LS230T. Solar observing is both fun and educational. Don’t miss out on Solar Maximum.