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Meade / Coronado SolarMax II 90mm Solar Telescope with RichView and 30mm Blocking Filter # SMT90-30
| Brand | Coronado |
| Part Number | SMT90-30 |
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Product Info
Manufacturer Description
Coronado by Meade SolarMax II 90mm Solar Telescope with RichView system # SMT90-30. Includes 30mm Blocking Filter. The incredible Coronado SolarMax 90 series telescopes are the largest H-alpha (Ha) telescope ever to be mass-produced and are now available with the patented RichView tuning system. This awesome solar observatory features a sub .7 angstrom bandpass.
Used around the world by serious solar enthusiasts and professional research facilities alike for observation of surface detail and prominences on the Sun in hydrogen-alpha (Ha) light. Powerful but very portable, this high resolution Solar Telescope offers dedicated visual observation of the Sun as well as high quality imaging.
The new Meade Coronado II represents a breakthrough in solar observing with the new and revolutionary RichView tuning assembly. This patented system allows direct tuning of the primary filter etalon. No other commercially available Ha telescope can provide the tuning range and accuracy of the SolarMax II. Now you can tune for the highest contrast views of active regions, flares, filaments, and other surface detail, or quickly and easily re-tune for prominences on the solar limb. The stunning bright red views through a Coronado Ha telescope display astounding surface and limb detail especially when the Sun is in an active phase.
This very high quality 90mm personal solar observatory features an 800mm focal length, f/8.8 focal ratio. Includes mounting rings, Sol Ranger finder scope, Cemax eyepieces, and travel case.
NOTE: shown with 90 degree type diagonal blocking filter for illustrative purposes only. Product includes 30mm straight through blocking filter and is otherwise identical.
Reviews
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May 30, 2019
Nice 'scope with a few quirks. Great service from Agena.
Pros: Cons: Comments:This is my first real foray into H-a solar astronomy, and I'm learning, but still have much more to learn. This is a nice telescope, and I've had a lot of fun using it. Agena followed up my order with a confirmation phone call since it was the first time I'd used them, then got the merchandise out very quickly that same day!
Bottom Line: Would you recommend this item? Yes
The center of gravity of the single-stack SM II 90 is about 1 cm or so behind the tuning lever, so the clamshell can be attached either in front of or behind the balance point. Using a dovetail bar that's longer than should be necessary allows the system to be balanced on the mount. A 7" bar schooched all the way forward works nicely with the clamshell clamped behind the tuner; a 4" bar can probably be made to work well enough. If you get one of these, be advised of this. The double-stacked 90s probably do balance easily with the clamshell in front of the tuner. The SM II series has been discontinued, and the SM III telescopes use a different attachment system, so this may not be an issue except for used equipment going forward.
For Coronados with an internally-mounted BF30 blocking filter, the documentation and sales literature both state that the diagonal is not required, and straight-through photography can be done safely (the smaller blocking filters are mounted in the diagonal, so the diagonal MUST be used with those) but the diagonal used with a BF30-equipped Coronado does contain a red filter. In order to attach a camera straight through, you'll need an additional filter, because a significant amount of light in the blue-green portion of the spectrum is present without it. I added an H-a filter with 12 nm passband for mounting on 1-1/4" eyepiece and accessory tubes to keep images from being swamped by other wavelengths.
Visual work is fascinating with this telescope, with prominences and flares visible, along with the occasional sunspot, even in this time of a quiet sun. I still have a long way to go, but I'm also having fun starting out in H-a solar astrophotography!This review was provided courtesy of AgenaAstro.com
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Specifications
| Telescope Aperture | 3.54" (90mm) |
| Manufacturer | Coronado |
| Telescope Aperture | 81mm - 125mm |
| Telescope Series | Coronado SolarMax II |
