Baader Herschel Wedge advice

[Pig]

Hiya all,

I am considering buying a Baader 2" Herschel wedge for my Pronto instead of buying a dedicated solar scope.

From what I have read around the internet this sounds quite a viable option. However,  I would like to hear from anyone that has used one first hand.

Thank you

Shaun

[emadmoussa]

The 'wedges' I bought the other day were actually good, not baader thouhg :D

[Pig]

They do look like they have been cooked using a HA filter

[Stu]

I don't think you need the 2" Shaun, that is only needed for larger scopes. I use a 1.25" Lunt wedge in my TV76 which is much cheaper and gives wonderful results. Amazing detail visible. You can buy a bundle which includes the required filters for quite a reasonable price. They come with the ND3.0 pre installed then you also need a top polarising filter or continuum.

http://www.telescopehouse.com/acatalog/Lunt-1.25--White-Light-Solar-Herschel-Wedge.html

Cheers,

Stu

[Pig]

I don't think you need the 2" Shaun, that is only needed for larger scopes. I use a 1.25" Lunt wedge in my TV76 which is much cheaper and gives wonderful results. Amazing detail visible. You can buy a bundle which includes the required filters for quite a reasonable price. They come with the ND3.0 pre installed then you also need a top polarising filter or continuum.

http://www.telescopehouse.com/acatalog/Lunt-1.25--White-Light-Solar-Herschel-Wedge.html

Cheers,

Stu

That does look very appealing Stu thank you.

What would you consider a "top polarising filter" ?

[Stu]

I bought mine as a full kit, but I think it is just a normal polarising filter which you fit to the eyepiece. This allows you to tube the brightness by turning the ep.

This link has one listed at the bottom.

http://www.lunt-solarsystems.eu/index.php?id=22&L=1&tx_commerce_pi1%5Brelated%5D=759&tx_commerce_pi1%5BshowUid%5D=817&tx_commerce_pi1%5BcatUid%5D=18&cHash=7cd317b57017ef032aa60c939ba5eba6

You can also use a Baader continuum filter but that turns the image bright green :-)

Stu

[Pig]

Cheers Stu, that looks quite good.

Would a 2" work ok ? I have been offered one for quite a good price and it includes 3 other filters for photography.

[Stu]

Yes, 2" would be very good I'm sure. I only suggested the 1.25" as it is normally much cheaper and my understanding is that it is basically all you need for a smaller scope. A good 2" certainly won't be worse than the 1.25!

Stu

[Stu]

Just to re-iterate, the views with these things are amazing. My PST is great, but I see so much detail with the wedge, it's great!

[Pig]

Excellent, I think I will go for it   

Thank you very much for your assistance Stu it is very much appreciated.

[Peter Drew]

Good as they are, the solar wedges give only white light views, you won't be able to see prominences, filaments, flares and other solar phenomena that change almost as you watch. You can still see sunspots in Ha. 

[Stu]

Good point Peter. Shaun, I assume you know you don't see filaments/prominences etc with the wedge, just white light. For me though, the PST and Herschel Wedge are perfect partners. Whilst you can see the sunspots with the PST, there is so much more detail visible in the active regions with the wedge. That's why I use them side by side quite frequently.

Stu

[Pig]

Thank you guys I was aware of the differences

[Stu]

Did you go for the 2" Shaun?

Stu

[Pig]

Did you go for the 2" Shaun?

Stu

I didn't in the end Stu, I am going to get a new 1.25" I understand the Baader has back focus problems with a Pronto.  

Have you heard of this make ? I am a bit confused about the "additional required filters"  at the bottom of the page (I thought the ND3 was built in)

http://www.astroshop.eu/solar-prisms/apm-1-25-solar-prism-herschel-wedge/p,18916

[Stu]

It looks like the same one ie Lunt, that I have. It is cheaper because it doesn't have the ND3.0 pre- installed, you need to buy it separately. Why don't you get the one I linked to from Telescopehouse which has the ND3.0 installed? Price seems good, you would just need a polarising filter to put onto the eyepiece.

Will have a check where I bought from and send a link if it is better.

Stu

[Pig]

Okies Stu, I will order from work tomorrow. The Lunt polarising filter is out of stock for 4 weeks

[Stu]

Hi Shaun. I did get mine from APM. At the time they were doing a bundle for 199 euros which included the ND3.0 pre-installed and a top polarizing filter so it was a good deal. I can't see the same deal available now, the TH one seems reasonable, but the ones at 149 euros definitely don't have the ND3.0 fitted which you will need.

Hope that helps?

Stu

[Pig]

Cheers Stu, I will give them a begging call from work in the morning

[Steve Ward]

I have the "Scopium" wedge from 365Astronomy , very impressed with it , especially the price ... http://www.365astronomy.com/scopium-white-light-herschel-wedge-solar-wedge-with-integrated-nd30-filter-red-p-3532.html

[Pig]

Thanks Steve, a tad late though

I just ordered the Lunt 1.25, they did me the bundled version for £167, you get the filter ND03 and the polarising filter included so not a bad deal in the end.

[Stu]

Nice one Shaun, good deal. You won't be disappointed :-)

Stu

[Stu]

By the way, which eyepieces do you think you will use with it? I was using a 12.5mm Hutech in mine the other day and the views were lovely.

Stu

[Pig]

I am not sure Stu,

I only have a set of Deloi and a couple of Naglers.so its a case of trial & error, the scope is f6.8

If the barrel lengths are too long I will try a couple of TV Plossl

I didn't get on with the !0mm BGO I had so I try to stay clear of limited eye relief Orthos.

[Stu]

Sounds like a plan. The simpler eyepiece designs tend to work well on the sun. 11 or 15mm TV Plossl or 12.5mm Hutech would be good. I've used a 10mm Delos with it too and that still worked very well.

Stu