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Coronado Meade Instruments PST Personal Solar Telescope – Review

Last Updated: 25.04.24

 

Main technical features

 

Equipped with some of the best features for fantastic solar viewing, the Coronado Meade Instruments PST comes with a dedicated H-alpha optical system with a 40mm aperture, and a 30mm internal etalon. As a Coronado innovation, this solar telescope provides the accuracy and tuning range necessary for viewing the ever-evolving prominences at the edge of the sun. The telescope boasts an exceptional <1.0 angstrom bandwidth as well as safe solar filtering optics.

The PST is very easy to use. It comes ready for integration with the exclusive and separately sold Sol Ranger, the sun finder device that can be installed into the base. It also comes with a 20 mm Kellner eyepiece for low power 20mm magnification. It is designed to be easy to setup as well. It comes with a 1.25-inch eyepiece holder. The eyepiece is set at 90° to the optical tube. It comes with a solar blocking system that includes a built-in blocking filter and a tuning ring aside from being tuned for the Ha bandwidth.

This device is engineered to provide exquisitely detailed views of the sun and its distinctive surface features. A regular telescope just won’t do for making direct observations of our energy-giving neighbor, so this solar telescope lets you take a clear and detailed view of the different elements that make the sun a unique component of our solar system and why it deserves to be the center of our own galaxy.

 

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In-depth information

 

The H-alpha optical system of this solar telescope delivers the needed accuracy and tuning range needed to view the sun up close safely and dependably. Everything can be viewed in the distinctive and bright red color of hydrogen-alpha light. For a long time, Sub-angstrom Hydrogen-alpha systems have been cost prohibitive for the novice solar astronomers. Other designs have proven to be challenging to use primarily because of stringent F-ratio specifications plus temperature considerations. With its <1.0 angstrom, this model offers thermal stability, allowing you to focus on the most precise wavelength of light for each side of the Ha band. The 40mm diameter dedicated Ha system comes with a 40mm external tunable Etalon.

The 40mm external tunable Etalon is supplemented by the 30mm internal Etalon primary blocking filter and integrated focuser as well as controls for bandpass fine adjustment and a focuser, all working really well together to enable easy solar observations. The internal, non-detachable filtering optics enable same solar viewing. The telescope is quite easy to use as it provides easy operations with just a placement of the eyepiece and the adjustment of the focus. The 40mm diameter telescope is highly portable and delivers increased surface detail, making the study of the solar disk within easy reach of the novice astronomer. The student-safe solar filtering optics let you see fantastic surface detail using cutting-edge exclusive technology. The integrated telescope and focuser combination prevents the accumulation of dust. The narrow bandwidth ensures optimal visibility and contrast of active solar regions. The thread-in metal lens cover shields the objective lens for reduced maintenance cost. The achromatic doublet objective lens is fully-coated as well for durability.

The telescope enables you to view the filaments on the sun as well as other surface details. You’ll be able to see the ever-changing prominences at the sun’s edge. Get the highest contrast views of flares, active regions, filaments and other surface characteristics of the sun. You can choose to re-tune quickly for awesome images of solar limb prominences. You can observe sun spots, solar phenomena and more. For durability, this model ios made of milled aluminum that is resistant to corrosion and chipping, enabling it to maintain its luxurious looks.

 

Known issues

One customer has noted that the supplied directions do not quite cover everything such as information on the focusing knob arriving to the buyer screwed clockwise all the way in. This would require full counterclockwise removal and then slowly turning it back in clockwise until the solar disk appears in sharp focus, followed by fine focusing adjustments.

 

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Ioana Moldovan

Ioana’s professional experience in the optics field has helped her understand the value of passing her knowledge forward. Her curious personality helps her gather useful information for her readers and her goal is to make technical information fun and accessible to everyone.

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