DescriptionRatings and Reviews

The Heliostar 100Hα is Sky-Watcher's new f-7.6 100mm, doublet refractor, solar telescope. Order the scope itself or bundle it with a mount package. You can select either the Sky-Watcher Wave 150i with stainless steel tripod, or the M002CX with Denali 2 (D2) tripod made out of anodized aluminum and ApplePly® plywood.

Eyepieces and Star Diagonal: In addition to one of the mounts above, you will need a star diagonal and eyepieces.

You can purchase our 2" Quartz Dielectric Star Diagonal upgrade for only $249 when ordering simultaneously with the telescope. It does not come with a 1.25" adapter since the telescope already has one.

Order our best diagonal and eyepiece assortment by selecting the "Add Our Best Visual Accessories and Save" option at the top of this page. You will need a diagonal, some eyepieces, a mount, and a tripod to observe with this telescope. You will find that a finder scope is helpful in locating objects. We recommend the following:

The Heliostar 100Hα solar telescope and the Wave 150i mount package, are both dropship items. This means that upon placing your order, it can take around 2-weeks to ship from Sky-Watcher. For availability on the M002CX with Denali 2 (D2) Tripod, give us a call at 530-823-7796 or email us at mail@stellarvue.com.

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The Heliostar 100Hα from Sky-Watcher:

• Double stack performance, single stack price
• 100mm aperture
• 760mm focal length
• f/7.6
• Official solar telescope of the Charlie Bates Solar Astronomy Project
• Integrated Heliostar solar finder, tube rings, and carry handle
• Integrated Trifid Tuner and Solis Etalon Technology
• <0.5Å bandpass
• H-alpha fully multicoated lens
• Achromatic doublet design
• 2.8-inch dual-speed Rack-and-pinion focuser
• 20mm, 1.25” diagonal format blocking filter
• Weight: 13.2 lbs.
• Includes: OTA, mounting rings, V-style dovetail, clip-on Sun shade, 22mm 70° 1.25" eyepiece, 2" eyepiece adapter, hard-shell carrying case

Introducing the Sky-Watcher Heliostar 100mm H-Alpha Solar Telescope:

The Heliostar 100mm H-alpha Solar Telescope brings a new light (yes, pun intended) to the Sky-Watcher family by offering a dedicated Hydrogen-alpha (Hα) solar telescope to the lineup. Hydrogen-alpha solar observing allows you to unlock the incredible dynamics of the surface of the Sun far beyond what a white light solar filter can deliver. From massive solar prominences and dancing spicules on the limb of the Sun to active sunspot regions where solar flares erupt, bright plage patches, surface granulation, wispy, snake-like plasma filaments, and more, the star of the solar system is yours to capture in breathtaking views and images.

Double the Fun:

The Heliostar 100mm Hα Solar Telescope provides incredible double stack performance for the price of one etalon filter. There is no need for costly double stack systems, Heliostar 100Hα is tuned to <0.5Å natively providing rich surface detail and with its 100mm aperture high resolution viewing and imaging is easily obtainable.

Safety Information:

The Sky-Watcher Heliostar 100mm Hα Solar Telescope has been lab tested here in the United States to meet the ISO 12312-2 safety standards. Each scope is tested one by one on the actual Sun to make sure each unit is ready for safe solar viewing right out of the box.

This is a dedicated solar telescope and will not provide views or images of anything except for the Sun. Please use an abundance of caution when observing the Sun, as incorrect usage and practices can result in serious and even permanent eye damage.

Also, the 20mm, 1.25-inch blocking filter in the removable eyepiece diagonal is part of Heliostar's safety features. Do not use with any other type of diagonal.

Included With Solar Telescope:

The Heliostar 100Hα features a collection of accessories to ensure you are ready for safe solar viewing right out of the box. The telescope includes mounting rings, V-style dovetail, Heliostar solar finder, dual speed Rack and Pinion focuser, 20mm blocking filter, clip on sunshade, 22mm 70° 1.25” eyepiece and 2" eyepiece adapter. All of this is housed inside a rugged carrying case, so you are ready to take your Heliostar 100 anywhere. A perfect match for the Sky-Watcher Wave 100i mount (available as an all-in-one kit, S11330) for the ultimate portable solar telescope setup!

Hydrogen Alpha Technology:

Hydrogen Alpha (Hα) solar telescopes are specialized instruments used to observe the Sun in a specific wavelength of light—656.3 nm—which corresponds to the emission line in the “A” alpha absorption band of the Balmer series. This wavelength is critical for studying solar phenomena like spicules, prominences, filaments, sunspots, and solar flares in great detail. Unlike standard white-light telescopes, which capture the Sun's broad spectrum, Hα solar telescopes offer a window into specific solar activity in the chromosphere, a layer of the Sun's atmosphere located just above the photosphere.

Etalon Filter Technology:

At the heart of most Hydrogen Alpha solar telescopes lies the etalon filter, a highly precise optical device that isolates the Hα wavelength from the rest of the Sun’s emitted light. An etalon is a type of interferometer, consisting of two parallel mirrors separated by a precise distance. The etalon works by reflecting light multiple times between the mirrors, selectively allowing only wavelengths that satisfy specific resonance conditions to pass through.

In the case of Hα solar telescopes, the etalon is designed to transmit light at the Hα wavelength while rejecting all other wavelengths. The key to the etalon’s performance lies in its ability to tune the wavelength allowed through the filter. This is achieved by adjusting the distance between the mirrors or by slightly tilting the etalon, which changes the angle of incidence. Tuning the etalon to each side of the central wavelength is needed because local changes in atmospheric pressure change the refractive index of your local air mass. The Sun's emission at Hα can also shift slightly due to Doppler effects, as violent explosions in the Sun's chromosphere can cause solar plasma to move at enormous speeds.

There are two primary types of etalon filters used in solar telescopes: single etalon and double etalon systems.

Traditional H alpha solar telescopes have been sold in two basic configurations: single etalon and the very costly double etalon systems. It has always been a choice of the single etalon's brighter prominences or more contrast of surface features from an additional etalon. The second etalon has the unfortunate consequence of reducing the brightness of the system by a whopping 40%.

Solis Etalon Technology™:

Sky-Watcher's all new Solis Technology™ allows the Heliostar to achieve a 0.55A bandpass without the costly expense and complexity of a second etalon to achieve the same or better performance without reducing the brightness significantly. This allows the observer to see very high contrast detailed images of the solar chromosphere right out of the box without any further expense.

Trifid Tuner™:

Inside the Heliostar is Sky-Watcher's Trifid Tuner™ system. This tuner applies physical pressure to the etalon plates, allowing the observer to reach the desired Hydrogen emission line. The Trifid tuner uses three support veins to provide a secure tuning for the etalon without stressing any peripheral systems.

Please enjoy solar astronomy safely!