We get asked all the time what camera is best with the Lunt Solar scopes and
filter now we can say ours. Below are the details of the new Lunt Solar
Imager (LSi). We have these ready for immediate delivery.

The price is $2,295.00.

Lunt Solar Imager

(as used on National Geographic’s, Easter Island Eclipse)

Includes the Lunt Solar Imager (LSi), Custom Lunt Solar Software (also
compatible with standard nighttime software for night use), and Lunt Solar
imaging instructions for use with the Lunt Solar scopes.

CCD type: Sony ICX285AL Exview HAD CCD with ultra low dark current, extended IR response and vertical anti-blooming.

CCD quality: Grade 1 or better – No bad columns, no dead pixels, no more
than 6 ‘hot’ pixels (saturated in <10 seconds).

CCD Full resolution Pixel data: Pixel size: 6.45uM x 6.45uM, Image format: 1392 x 1040 pixels

CCD Image area: 8.98mm (Horizontal) x 6.7mm (Vertical).

Spectral Response: QE max at 540nM (~65%), 50% roll-off at 400nM and 750nM.

Readout Noise: Less than 7 electrons RMS – typically ONLY 5 electrons! 

Full-well capacity: Greater than 23,000 e- (un-binned)

Anti-blooming: Overload margin greater than 800x.

Dark current: Dark frame saturation time greater than 100 hours. Less than
0.02 electrons/second @ + 10C ambient.

Data format: 16 bits.

System gain:  0.45 electrons per ADU

Computer Interface: Built-in USB 2.0 compatible interface. 

Image download time: Typically 0.6 seconds full resolution using USB 2.0,
approximately 2 seconds with USB 1.1.

Power requirements: 115VAC / 240VAC @ 12VA, or 12VDC @ 750mA max.

Cooling system: Regulated set-point cooling supply with single stage
thermoelectric cooler to give a CCD temperature of up to -30C below ambient.

Size: 75 x 70mm red anodized aluminum barrel with 42mm ‘T2′ thread at the
CCD window end & input/output plugs at rear.

Weight: approx. 300g

Lunt will provide full support and instructions for Solar Imaging.

Stephen Ramsden of the famous non-profit Charlie Bates Solar Astronomy Project snapped these two amazing images this morning using some of his personal Lunt gear.

This awesome image was captured with Stephen’s LS80THa single stack and a DMK41.  Detailed views of prominences, active regions and filaments can clearly be seen across the solar disk!  While things in H-alpha looked awesome the view in white light was also quite a sight!  The image below was captured using an Explore Scientific 127ED Triplet Apo. refractor using the Lunt 2″ Solar Wedge and DMK41 camera.  The crisp views of the granulation and awesome detailed images of the collection of sunspots makes this a truly awesome image!

For more information about Charlie Bates Solar Astronomy Project and the famous S.U.N.S.P.O.T. truck check out www.charliebates.org!

We truly enjoy seeing the images being shot with our products!  Please continue to keep sending in you images and we will put them on our blog.

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 152T and the 160F. Solar observing is both fun and educational. Don’t miss out on Solar Maximum.

Peter Desypris of Greece shot these awesome up close images using his LS60THa Double Stack.

Please keep sending in your images and we will post them here on our blog!

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.

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.

This image was taken a few days ago by solar imager Kevin Fookes and his LS60THa!  Impeccable detail seen through out the image!

Please keep sending us your images and we will get them posted up on the blog!

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 152T and the 160F. Solar observing is both fun and educational. Don’t miss out on Solar Maximum.

We love seeing the awesome images people are producing with their Lunt Solar Systems!  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 152T and the 160F. Solar observing is both fun and educational. Don’t miss out on Solar Maximum.

One such sketcher is Alan Strauss.  Alan has become a well respected solar sketch artist on the forums of Cloudy Nights, posting a sketch nearly every morning!  Much of Alan’s work is done through his LS60THa/PT and his TEC140ED with a Lunt Solar Wedge for white light.  His sketches truly capture an impressive amount of detail!  Detailed surface detail, strong active regions, dark filaments, and raging prominences can all be seen in his sketches, much like a CCD image!  Below is one of his sketches through his LS60THa/PT.

While Alan does much of his sketching from his home observatory, Lost Pleiad Observatory, he does bring out his gear to some of the larger Arizona star parties.  I had the pleasure of meeting Alan and his good friend and observing partner Jerry Farrar at the All Arizona Messier Marathon in March 2010.  Both of them spent nearly an hour and half sketching through the LS60T, TEC140, and LS152T making sure they caught every last detail!

(One of Alan’s White Light Sketches)

Though Alan spends a considerable amount of time under the sun, he also does a lot of deep sky work, sketching galaxies, nebula, and star clusters; all of which can be seen on his website (click the link above).

Sketching takes time and practice like anything else, Alan gives thanks to his observing partner Jerry Farrar for teaching him the ways of sketching and observing. Alan plans to continue his sketching, always refining his techniques and constantly learning.  He hopes to one day upgrade to the LS100THa which will provide even high resolution and help capture finer details!

Sketching is indeed an art, it requires patients and a steady eye.  So give it a try next time your out on a scope!  Even just a basic drawing of what you see, this can help with further observations, maybe through different scopes, different filters, and different observing sites.  Most importantly, go out and have a good time!

(Alan’s White Light set up; TEC140ED with Lunt 2″ Solar Wedge)

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 152T and the 160F. Solar observing is both fun and educational. Don’t miss out on Solar Maximum.