APM has developed a new generation of Herschel Wedge for high resolution white light solar observing. The APM Solar Herschel Wedge will turn your favorite refractor into a solar telescope.
The mechanical housing is completely enclosed so that the risk of burning your
hand or clothes is fully removed. Only 5% of the solar light passes through to
the eyepiece, removing the risk of injury when used properly with the recommended filters (available separately).
After the prism we recommend a dark grey neutral density filter 1.25" ND3.0
(1/1000) which blocks most of the 5% light without any risk of cracking.
Between the ND 3.0 Filter and the eyepiece we recommend use of a Top-Pol Filter. By rotating the Top Pol filter (screwed into the eyepiece barrel ) you can infinitely fine tune the level of brightness from photographic brightness to pure visual brightness due to the polarisation with the prism.
We offer the wedge alone for those of you who may already own filters or wish to use a different brand of filter.
For use with this very high quality Herschel Wedge, APM recommends the best filters we know: BW-Schneider Kreuznach of Germany. These filters are not included in this price but are listed for purchase separately.
We recently learned of another great use for this versatile piece of equipment from some of our customers, who reported having much success lunar viewing with the wedge! Using the wedge with a polarizing filter only decreased lunar brightness to a level which resulted in far more detailed viewing of the moon's features. REMEMBER: Never use the Herschel Wedge without the ND3 1000x filter for SOLAR viewing.
Your Herschel Wedge is delivered in a high quality aluminum box with pre-cut foam designed to hold the wedge and filters.
The wedges and filters are both now available and in stock.
