Experience Lunt LS50 B600 on NEQ5 with Skywatcher tracking with autoguider port

After the transit of Mercury in 2019, I was enticed by the idea of ​​owning my own H-alpha telescope. So, I fulfilled this dream and, after extensive consultation with the telescope specialists, ordered a Lunt 50THA/B600PT with a Skywatcher NEQ5 and the Skywatcher autoguider, including the associated DEC and RA tracking motors, with a view to a future "career" as an astrophotographer.

The advantages and disadvantages of the system were well explained. For example, a B600 blocking filter was recommended for photographing the sun in H-alpha light, as it can be used with this telescope both visually and photographically.

For visual purposes, I usually use the telescope with a 6mm or 9mm Plössl eyepiece, as I simply get a better viewing angle than, for example, with my 5mm TS planetary, which I prefer especially with an 8-inch Dobsonian.

Thanks to the Pressure Tuner, the various details of the sun can be highlighted very easily. Depending on how you adjust it, you can highlight the details of the surface, as well as the prominences on the edge of the sun. Focusing with the helical focuser also works without problems for visual purposes. I only occasionally wish for more precision when photographing the sun.

The NEQ5 with the autoguider only needs to be aligned north with a compass for visual observation, and it then performs very well. For pure tracking without guiding pulses, a simple USB power bank is sufficient as a power source, as it provides 5.2V as an output voltage, while the control requires 6V. If guiding pulses are also required, then a 6V power supply is required.

Since there is no ready-made plug-and-play package, the stepper motors still had to be attached to the mount, which is not particularly difficult and should be manageable for any novice.

All in all, I was sold a solid and affordable basic setup for solar observation and photography, which I still enjoy today, three years later.

In the picture: NEQ5 including stepper motor controller and solar telescope. A home-made power distribution box is located under the mount.