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.

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.

The LS35THa is the smallest of the Lunt line, packages start at $499.00 for the L35THa standard model.  The LS35T is a great intro scope into the world of H-Alpha viewing or even a second scope for grab and go H-Alpha observing!  Like the rest of the Lunt line the LS35T can be doublestacked with the addition of a LS35FHa to provide an even more detailed view of the solar disk!

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.

Here is a bit of info… The image is shown with the optional DSII added.

1) The DSII will soon be available on ALL Lunt dedicated scopes including the LS152T!!

2) This same module will also be available as a rear end addition to the Celestron C11 and C14. This package will include the Lunt True ERF to safely aperture the scope to the appropriate size, removing both UV and IR energy from the optical path.  A straight thru BF will be integrated into the module for enhanced viewing.

The LS80T/PT (pressure tuned) is a complete and dedicated Solar Telescope with an Image Scale of 408.  Image scale is calculated by the effective image size at the focal plain and the clear aperture of the scope.  A precision aligned ED refractor with a fully un-obstructed 80mm optical aperture. This package provides a significant step up into the Intermediary category of Daytime Solar Observing, Maintaining the most advanced technology of Doppler True Tuning for fine adjustment of the center wavelength, allowing research of the Sun’s disk and surface details at increased image scale.  Prominences, flares, super granulation, filaments, and active regions will be observed.

The LS80T package is fully upgradeable with several options including the NEW evolutionary Dual Internal Stack Etalon System (DSII). The DSII eliminates the need for an external doublestack etalon reducing cost and eliminating obstructions. The system is 100% un-obstructed. The bandpass is reduced to <0.5 Angstroms. See the Sun’s weather in stunning high definition.

Customer Solar Images:

• Olivier Hardy
• Ted Dobosz
• Brian Colville
• Jurij Stare
• Geert Vandenbulcke
• Your Image Gallery here?

For more images visit the Lunt Solar Image Gallery

LS80T/PT Specifications: (single stacked)

• Optical Aperture: 80mm (Unobstructed)
• Etalon: Internal <0.7 Angstrom
• Tuning: Internal Pressure Tune (Doppler True Tuning)
• Image Scale: 408
• Focal Length: 560mm
• F Ratio: 7
• Focuser: Crayford with 10:1 fine adjustment
• Mounting: Integrated clamshell style with 1/4-20 tapped base
• Storage: Aluminum finished hard case with fitted foam
• Weight: 14 lbs
• Starting at: US$3,246.00

Required Blocking Filter: (see “blocking filters”)

• B1200 for standard visual use (included)
• B1800 for larger field of view and imaging applications (upgrade)

Included Accessories: (see “accessories”)

• Sun Finder: Televue Sol Searcher
• Mounting: Lunt 6″ Dovetail
• Eyepiece: Lunt Zoom Eyepiece
• Case: Aluminum Finished Hard Case with Custom Foam

Optional Accessories: (see “accessories”)

• Focuser: Startlight Feathertouch

The LS80T can be internally double stacked (see LS80T/DSII) at time of purchase or anytime thereafter.  Doublestacking provides a truly enhanced high definition view the Sun’s surface details.  The LS80T/PT does not need to be returned to the factory for doublestacking.

Part Number: LS80Ha/PT/DSII

Retail: US$1,495.00

You may also be interested in: (see “merchandise“)

• Lunt Solar Hat
• Lunt Solar Polo or Tank Top Shirt

But there’s more……

The LS80T/PT is available in many optional variations, here are a few examples to aid in description and part numbers for pricing.

LS80THa/PT/B1200/C

* Standard system with B1200 visual use blocking filter and standard Crayford Focuser

Retail Price: US$3,246.00

LS80THa/PT/B1200/C

* Standard system with B1200 visual use blocking filter and upgraded Feathertouch Focuser

Retail Price: US$3,665.00

LS80THa/PT/B1800/C

* Standard system with B1800 imaging upgraded blocking filter and standard Crayford Focuser

Retail Price: US$3,596.00

LS80THa/PT/B1800/FT

* Standard system with B1800 imaging upgraded blocking filter and upgraded Feathertouch Focuser

Retail Price: US$4,016.00

These part numbers can be looked up in the Price List or call for more information.

True Doppler Tuning allows for a shift into and away from the user.  Adding a 3D like component to the viewing experience. While it has minimal effect on proms due to their being at the edge of the disk, it does have an effect on filaments and active regions on the surface.  While looking at a filament at the center of the Sun the user has the ability to Doppler shift from the base of the filament to the tip, following the filament thru it’s structure toward you and away from you. Allowing for enhanced visual and imaging capability for the observer as well as a research tool for the avid hobbyist.  The pressure tuning system provides an order of magnitude more precision to the tuning of the desired features.

No-one brings you closer to our nearest Star than Lunt Solar Systems… the next generation of Solar Instrumentation.

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 $598 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.