Seeing prominences with 5 nm H-alpha filter

[Jordan Konisky]

Looking into purchasing a Astrodon 5nm Hydrogen-alpha filter. Would I be able to see solar prominences with this filter or do I need a more narrow band filter. Thanks.

[EGRAY_OBSERVATORY]

Hello Jordan,

A quick web search has come-up with a possible answer, although whether it is accurate enough for you purposes is unknown to me.

https://stargazerslounge.com/topic/3256 ... re-images/

I hope you get a good result.

cheers
Terry

[JochenM]

That won't work I'm afraid.

Short version, the bandpass on that filter (eventhough it's considered quite narrow for night time use on nebulae etc); is way too wide for solar use. As a result, you'll end up with just an orange/red looking disk without any features to speak of.

[highfnum]

5nm to much
you need 1nm filter for proms you can get them from Andover optical
i have done that
2 ways
method one is the "thousand oaks" method where filter is placed in a tilt-tune holder and in a scope running at min f25 plus front ERF

method two is making an SPV(solar prom viewer) David Groski has instructions I have built 2 of them and it works well
it has occulting disk - it creates artificial eclipse
i have seen proms in Ha and Hb with this method and proper filter

[highfnum]

link to David G SPV
http://www.considine.net/dgroski/promscope/

[highfnum]

here is pic I took with spv and 1nm Ha filter
that black disk is not done by software but actual occulting disk

spv9.jpg (45.27 KiB) Viewed 378 times

[highfnum]

method 1 (Hau) h alpha unit using skybender tilt device

skybender.jpg (425.29 KiB) Viewed 377 times

[Highbury Mark]

The Astrodon is a night light pollution filter. You need a proper solar Ha telescope or solar Ha filter and blocking filter to mount on a refractor to see surface detail, including prominences

[highfnum]

link to thousand oaks model
i dont think they sell them anymore
http://www.thousandoaksoptical.com/wp-c ... ctions.pdf

[Jordan Konisky]

Thank you everyone for your constructive comments.