Astronomy tests Coronadoò??s SolarMax II Telescope

Coronadoò??s SolarMax II 60 Telescope is a Hydrogen-alpha telescope. Unlike a visible-light solar filter, which can show sunspots, the SolarMax IIò??s filter reveals prominences, flares, and the Sunò??s chromosphere.

Astronomy: William Zuback

With solar maximum ò?? the peak of activity in the Sunò??s 11-year cycle ò?? rapidly approaching, observers are spending more time viewing our daytime star. Any telescope with a properly filtered optical system will allow you to see the Sun in the relatively broad spectral range of visible light. However, for an exquisite view of our star, a dedicated narrowband filter lets you explore details such as active solar regions and prominences.

The primary narrowband filter amateur astronomers use for solar observing is the Hydrogen-alpha (HÞÁ). It only transmits light with a wavelength of 656.28 nanometers ò?? the HÞÁ line. For this review, I tested an excellent solar telescope you should consider if you would like to observe in HÞÁ: the SolarMax II 60 Telescope by Coronado, a subsidiary of Meade Instruments.

Astronomy magazine subscribers can download the full review for free. Just make sure you're registered with the website.