Check out this recently captured image of AR1236.  This image was captured by Howard Eskildsen using a LS B600 CaK module on a Orion 80ED refractor.  The CaK filters do an exceptional job for viewing the plage areas around the sunspot as it can clearly be seen in this image.  Another feature that is a little bit rarer is the “Light Brigde”.  The light bridge can be seen between the main sunspot, as small and slender white line dividing the sunspot.

Excellent job Howard!

Calcium K (Ca-K) Telescopes and Filters are used to study the wavelength of 393.4nm. This emission line is one of 2 that are produced by Calcium just at the edge of the visible spectrum in a layer that is slightly lower and cooler than the layer viewed in Hydrogen-alpha. The emission line displays areas of Super Granulation Cells that are brightest and strongest in areas of high magnetic fields such as sunspot activity and active regions. Having the ability to study the Calcium K and the Hydrogen-alpha line provides important insights into the structure, strength, and depth of these active regions.

The Calcium K line is centered at 393.4nm. This wavelength is considered to be slightly outside the visible spectrum on the UV side. While most people can visually see the violet color of the wavelength, many cannot resolve the contrast due to yellowing of the cornea. People who have had cataract surgery are often able to see considerable detail. But, it is for these reasons that the Ca-K line is typically studied via the use of cameras which are able to provide stunning details.

Internal narrowband filters allow for a <2.4 Angstrom bandpass. Primarily an imaging system due to the difficulty of many to visually see everything that CaK has to offer.

Delivered with order:
• Star Diagonal with T2 connection, for 2″ Focuser
• blocking filter B600 with IR and UV protection

Optional Accessories: (see “accessories“)

• Sun Finder: “TeleVue Sol Searcher“.
• Eyepiece: “Lunt Zoom Eyepiece“.

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

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

But there’s more……

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

LS6CaKMDd2
* Calcium Module with B600 Blocking Filter – In star diagonal with T2 connection for telescopes up to 100mm aperture and 600mm focal length
Retail Price: US$599.00

LS6CaKMDd2
* Calcium Module with B600 Blocking Filter – In extension tube with T2 connection for telescopes up to 100mm aperture and 600mm focal length
Retail Price: US$599.00

LS12CaKMDd2
* Calcium Module with B1200 Blocking Filter – In star diagonal with T2 connection for telescopes up to 100mm aperture and 1200mm focal length
Retail Price: US$849.00

LS12CaKMDs2
* Calcium Module with B1200 Blocking Filter – In extension tube with T2 connection for telescopes up to 100mm aperture and 1200mm focal length
Retail Price: US$849.00

LS18CaKMDd2
* Calcium Module with B1800 Blocking Filter – In star diagonal with T2 connection for telescopes up to 100mm aperture and 1800mm focal length
Retail Price: US$995.00

LS18CaKMDs2
* Calcium Module with B1800 Blocking Filter – In extension tube with T2 connection for telescopes up to 100mm aperture and 1800mm focal length
Retail Price: US$995.00

LS34CaKMD
* Calcium Module with B1800 & B3400 Blocking Filter – In extension tube with T2 connection for telescopes up to 100mm aperture and 600mm focal length
Retail Price: US$1,695.00

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

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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 $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 sun continues to put on quite a show today with its array of active regions.  The image below shows AR1226 and 1227 with their collection of dancing filaments.   Currently there are six active regions visible on the sun, providing a lot of different things to view and image!  It will be exciting to see what unfolds over the next few days as some of these regions have been producing C-class flares.

For the last few weeks the sun has grown quiet again.  After spoiling many of us with awesome active regions, prominences, filaments, etc…  Well over the last couple days the sun has unleashed a angry display with AR1226 and AR1227 which has unleashed several C-class flares!  Solar observers around the world are urged to keep the scopes trained on the sun for the next several days.

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.

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.

The sun has been putting on quite a show lately with sun spots 1109, 1110, and 1111 crossing the surface!  Images have been popping up across astronomy forums for the last few weeks!  The sun is indeed coming alive!

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.