Help with choosing my first scope

[Cornelius Varley]

18 minutes ago, Blueearthling said:

Hi, can a hershel solar wedge be used with a schmidt cassegrain?

Thanks.

Herschel wedges should be used with certain types of refractor telescope. SCTs and MCTs are a closed system which can cause a big build up of heat within the telescope tube if a front mounted solar filter is not used, potentially damaging/ruining/destroying the telescope.

[RT65CB-SWL]

On 10/03/2023 at 15:41, Blueearthling said:

Hi, can a hershel solar wedge be used with a schmidt cassegrain?

Thanks.

No! 

Simply put, it would 'overheat'  the tube and damage the corrector plate  ... and for Maksutov's the adhesive/glue for the baffle on the secondary mirror will soften and fall off... then there is the residue to clean upoff the meniscus cell and primary mirror...  

Edited March 12, 2023 by Philip R

[bosun21]

My two cents worth is to pass on the 150mm Heritage and get yourself the 6”(150mm) Ursa Major dobsonian from First Light Optics. It’s a full size dobsonian and a solid tube so no light ingress or shrouds to make. It also has a proper CNC focuser rather than a plastic helical focuser which I found pretty poor. Good luck with whatever you choose.

[Blueearthling]

I've already got a nexstar 6se. What are my best options? Will it be possible to observe solar flares? I'd like an orange colour rather than white.

[Cosmic Geoff]

9 minutes ago, Blueearthling said:

I've already got a nexstar 6se. What are my best options? Will it be possible to observe solar flares? I'd like an orange colour rather than white.

You can buy a ready-made full aperture filter for the 6 SE, for observing in white light.

To observe flares you need a narrowband filter. If you want to use the 6 SE you will need a full aperture energy-reduction filter and a narrowband filter. It might be easier to just buy a solar scope made for the purpose (wallet warning ☹️). 

[Peter Drew]

You will need 3 elements to successfully and safely view hydrogen-alpha details including flares on the Sun.  They are an energy rejection filter, a hydrogen-alpha etalon and a narrow band blocking filter.  Collectively they will cost more than the telescope!     🙂

[Blueearthling]

Thanks guys. What would be the cheapest option just to view the sun with the 6se? Will a full aperture baarder solar filter get me started?

Edited March 12, 2023 by Blueearthling

[Peter Drew]

Yes, cheapest/best.     🙂