Part III Spectroheliograph Sol'Ex

Okay, the Skymax127 with anti-reflective mirror was a very good idea.

However, the following limitations arose:

the Sykmax has to be focused somehow from a distance
the long focal length and the combination of small slit and small sensor (IMX178) gives the feeling to observe the sun with a microscope.
Point 1 was easy to solve: a motorized focusing unit was developed [Link].

Point 2: another telescope is needed. But also without mirror... so mirror without mirror layer.



The advantage in the store: we get repairs or scrap goods on the part of the manufacturers purely. In this case it was a Skywatcher Explorer 150PDS, whose secondary was glued on so crooked that I had to rebuild it anyway. (Here another project was created [Link])

 

 

Here we go...

 

This is how the Sun-150PDS looks like a few hours later: if you collimate Newtons all day long, your brain needs a few seconds to understand what is different: the tube is illuminated from behind, because now about 96% light comes through the ex-mirror.


And you can see something else: curved spines. Freshly printed by means of carbonaceous material, and with a very low weight, they're as solid as a rock. Since this application is the sun: also temperature stable.


The focuser is adjustable by motor:

 

The adapter is made of the same material as the Curved Spines and is assembled by means of magnets- Thanks to the built-in guides, nothing wobbles there.

The NEAF from ZWO was chosen because it was lying around in the spare parts box and we don't work in sub-zero temperatures (we often got feedback that the NEAFs are bitching at very low temperatures).
 

 

The complete setup on my balcony.

 

 

The first image in H-Alpha. By the way, EVERY wavelength can be set.





Your Karsten