LUNT LS130MT H-Alpha Telescope with 12 mm blocking filter and 2" Feather Touch focuser

LUNT LS130MT/B1200R&P Multipurpose APO Telescope for Sun and Night-Sky

Modular designed multipurpose telescope, both for observing the sun in the H-alpha wavelength, as well as for night sky observations. Easy conversion between the different applications with a few simple steps. 3-element apochromatic telescope with FPL51 glass, 130 mm aperture and 910 mm focal length - excellent image quality for H-Alpha solar observation and also for observing the starry sky at night. With innovative air pressure tuning system, a 2" Feather Touch focuser, and B1200 blocking filter.

Solar observing in H-alpha
The LS130MT/B1200 is a complete telescope for observing the sun in H-alpha light, with 130 mm clear aperture (no central obstruction) and 910 mm focal length. The H-alpha wavelength is the most impressive way to observe the sun, showing prominences, filaments and flares on the surface, and much more. An internal etalon filter achieves a bandwidth of <0.7 angstroms using the innovative Pressure-Tuner air pressure tuning system. Tuning is done by slightly changing the air pressure in a pressure chamber inside the telescope. This changes the refractive index of the air, making it easy to tune to the H-alpha line. The pressure tuner guarantees a homogeneous image, without central obstruction, and a permanently protected etalon without wear. A set of collimating lenses installed in the telescope ensures best performance.

The blocking filter is the B1200. The B1200 is well-suited for visual solar observation as well as for solar photography with cameras equipped with small sensor chips. The sun is imaged full-frame through the blocking filter, including the prominences. It has a diameter of 9.1 mm at the focal point. The mirror diagonal, into which the blocking filter is built, comes standard with both a receptacle for 1.25" eyepieces and a T2 connection for cameras.

Observing the starry night sky
The H-Alpha Etalon system can be removed from the telescope in a few easy steps thanks to its modular design. Then the 3-lens apochromatic refractor can be used as a normal telescope with 130 mm aperture and 910 mm focal length for observation and photography of the night sky. The FPL51 triplet lens delivers an outstanding, low chromatic aberration image. Common 2" star diagonals can be used on the focuser of the telescope.

More applications
With optional accessories, the LS130MT offers even more possibilities!
- Double-Stack
The LS130MT telescope can be optionally upgraded with the separately available LS130MT/DSII double-stack module. The DSII system is an internal double-stack module with Pressure Tuner, achieving a full width at half maximum (FWHM) of <0.5 angstroms. This makes even more details on the Sun´s surface visible.
- White-light solar observation
Once the H-Alpha unit has been removed, you can, of course, use either a solar filter installed in front of the objective lens or a Herschel wedge on the focuser to observe sunspots in white light.
- Solar observing at the Ca-K wavelength
The seperately available "LUNT Ca-K Filter Module for LS130MT" (item number LS130MT-CAK) can be used with the LS130MT to observe and photograph supergranulation and other effects visible at this wavelength on the sun.

This makes the LS130MT a completely universally usable apochromatic telescope of highest quality!

Additional information: What is the "Pressure Tuner" system?
The air pressure in our atmosphere varies depending on whether you are at sea level or, for example, on a mountain. The different conditions influence the wavelengths of light. Although this shift is minimal, it is clearly visible with filter bandwidths of less than one angstrom. If the filter is no longer precisely adjusted to the (shifted) H-alpha wavelength, the image of the sun in the telescope becomes blurred, and prominences and surface details are no longer visible.

The etalon filter systems must therefore be adapted to the conditions prevailing at the observation site. This correction, known as "tuning", is usually achieved by mechanically tilting the filter. With dimensions of just a few angstroms, it is of course not easy to achieve the required correction precisely by tilting. Because the filter is then no longer exactly straight in the light path, optical errors can also occur.

The "Pressure Tuner" air pressure system from Lunt Solar Systems takes a different approach. The etalon filter is no longer tilted; instead, the air pressure in the filter system is changed. Starting from the ambient pressure at which the etalon is set to a red-shifted H-alpha line, the tuning system can be used to compress the air surrounding the etalon. This changes the refractive index and shifts the transmission wavelength toward blue, enabling precise adjustment to the actual current wavelength within a range of +/- 0.4 angstrom.
This allows for much more sensitive adjustment, and the surfaces of the etalon always remain at the correct angle in the beam path.

Astrophotographic results obtained with this telescope on Astrobin
Here you can find some astrophotographs made with this telescope model: Link to Astrobin

Astrophotographic results obtained with this telescope on Astrobin

Here you can find some astrophotographs made with this telescope model: Link to Astrobin

Safety informations: PDF Download