Coronado SolarMax III Solar Telescope

A 0.5 angstrom bandpass is exceptionally narrow, which is the key to seeing high-contrast details on the sun. This setting allows you to isolate specific wavelengths of light, revealing intricate surface features like filaments, plages, and active regions with much greater clarity than wider bandpass filters.

While the SolarMax III 90 is a high-performance instrument, it is accessible for dedicated enthusiasts. The inclusion of the Sol Ranger finder makes aligning the telescope with the sun straightforward, though you should be comfortable with manual Alt-Azimuth adjustments since this model does not feature computerized Go-To tracking.

No, this is a dedicated solar telescope. It is specifically engineered with internal filtering systems designed exclusively for safe, high-contrast observation of the sun and cannot be used for viewing stars, planets, or the moon.

It includes the essential optical components, such as the CEMAX eyepieces, a Barlow lens, and the solar finder, all in a protective hard case. However, please note that a tripod is not included, so you will need to provide your own compatible mount to support the 17.7-pound telescope.

Yes, the SolarMax III 90 is well-suited for solar astrophotography. Its 90mm aperture and 800mm focal length provide the necessary resolution and image scale to capture detailed images of solar phenomena, provided you have a compatible camera and adapter.

Double-stacking effectively narrows the bandpass of the telescope. By adding a second etalon filter, you reduce the bandpass to 0.5 angstroms, which significantly increases the contrast of surface details, making features like solar flares and prominences stand out much more sharply against the solar disk.