Astronomik ASSUCCD2 - Sulfur II CCD Filter 12 nm, 2 in mounted

The Astronomik SII-CCD filter is a narrow-band-filter for CCD photography. The filter lets the light of the ionized sulfur [S II] pass, and blocks nearly the whole remainder of the visual spectrum as well as IR, in which the CCD is sensitive.

The full width at half maximum (FWHM) of 12 nm is optimal suitable for common CCD cameras and allows the use of very fast optics. The range of application extends from 1:2.8 to 1:15. Transmission losses and chromatic distortions, which arise with other filters, only occur with Astronomik filters when extremely bright aperture ratios of 1:2 and more come into play. It should be noted, that the filter has a transmission of up to 99%.

Another advantage of the 12 nm filters is the good availability of guiding stars for cameras with a built-in autoguider (SBIG). If you use a very strong filter like our 6 nm filter, you often won´t find a usable guidestar.

The Astronomik [S II] CCD filter increases the contrast between objects, in this case between those with [S II] emission lines and the skyglow background. Also, our Astronomik [S II] CCD filter completely suppresses the emission lines of artificial lighting (mercury (Hg) and sodium (Na)) and skyglow.

Main use:

The Astronomik [S II] CCD increases the contrast between objects, in this case between the [S II] emission line and the skyglow background. Our Astronomik [S II] CCD completely suppresses the emission lines of artificial lighting (mercury (Hg) and sodium (Na)) and skyglow. Due to the high optical quality of the Astronomik H-alpha-CCD substrate you will see the same needle-sharp stars as you would from your regular telescope.

Other uses:

Using the new H-alpha-CCD and the new [O III]-CCD filters, you can obtain three-color images of emission line objects (gas nebulae) from locations with very strong light pollution. To do so, you would take an image in three different wavelengths, select each one as a color-channel in Photoshop and paste them together as one single color image.

If you plan to create color images from emission line data, our CLS-CCD filter is a great choice for the Luminance channel.

Suitability:

Visual observation (dark skies): Unsuitable

Visual observation (urban skies): Unsuitable

Film photography: It depends, but very long exposure times

CCD photography: Very good, huge contrast enhancement at [S II]-emission nebulae

DSLR photography (original): Unsuitable

DSLR photography (astro modified): Very good, huge contrast enhancement at [S II]-emission nebulae

DSLR photography (MC modified): Very good, huge contrast enhancement at [S II]-emission nebulas

Webcam / Video (Planets): Unsuitable

Webcam / Video (Deep Sky): Unsuitable

Technical Data:

Transmission of over 97% with the [S II] line (672 nm)

Complete blocking of all disturbing wavelength ranges in the infrared

Parfocal with other Astronomik filters

Glass thickness: 1 mm

Completely resistant against high humidity, scratches and aging effects

Diffraction limited, the filter will not reduce the optical performance of your telescope!

Astronomik filters are delivered in a high-quality, long lasting, filter box

Filter transmission curve:

The horizontal axis is the wavelength in nanometers (nm). 400 nm is deep blue, at 520 nm the human eye senses green and at 600 nm red. At 656 nm is the famous "H-Alpha" emission line of hydrogen.

The transmission in % is plotted on the vertical axis.

The red line shows the transmission of the filter.

Visual filters: The grey line in the background shows the relative sensitivity of the human eye at night. The maximum is at ~510 nm and drops to longer and shorter wavelengths. You can easily see, that you can´t see anything of the H-alpha line at night (even if you can during daylight!) The sensitivity at 656 nm is 0% at night!

Photographic filters: The grey line in the background shows the sensitivity of a typical CCD sensor.

The most important artifical emission lines are shown in orange. The artifical light pollution is dominated by see mercury (Hg) and sodium (Na), which are used in nearly all streetlights.

The most important emission lines from nebulas are shown in green. The most important lines are from ionized hydrogen (H-alpha and H-beta), double ionized oyxgen ([O III]) and ionized sulfur ([S II]). The square brackets indicate that these lines are forbidden.