Lunt LS100MT H-Alpha Solar Telescope - Standard Kit

100mm ED Doublet Objective Lens

At the heart of the LS100MT is a 100mm F/7.14 air-spaced doublet objective lens. Using an element of FPL-51 extra-low dispersion (ED) glass, this optic is highly corrected for chromatic aberration, producing a sharp, high-contrast image before the light ever reaches the filtering system. This large, unobstructed aperture provides the raw resolving power needed to see fine details on the solar disk that are simply invisible in smaller instruments, especially under good seeing conditions.

The immediate visual benefit is the ability to push magnification higher on active regions. Where a 60mm or 80mm scope might show a sunspot group as a clustered smudge, the 100mm aperture resolves individual umbrae and the delicate structure of the surrounding penumbra. This is the aperture that transforms a view of a solar flare from a bright point into a complex, evolving structure with discernible loops and ribbons.

Internal Pressure-Tuned Etalon

The LS100MT uses Lunt's advanced internal pressure-tuning system for its solid-etalon filter. By adjusting a small piston, you precisely change the air pressure in the etalon cavity, which alters its refractive index and shifts the filter's bandpass across the H-alpha line. This method provides "Doppler-true" tuning, allowing you to observe the slight blue-shift of material moving toward you in a solar flare or the red-shift of a falling prominence without introducing off-axis artifacts.

Unlike mechanically tuned systems, pressure tuning imparts zero stress on the etalon itself, ensuring consistent performance and preventing the de-contacting that can occur over the life of a tilt-tuned filter. The result is a uniformly illuminated field of view and the ability to track dynamic events across their full velocity range. The standard single-stack configuration provides a <0.7Å bandpass, ideal for high-contrast views of prominences against the blackness of space.

B1200 Blocking Filter for a Full-Disc View

This Standard Kit includes the B1200 blocking filter, housed within a 2-inch star diagonal. The "1200" refers to its 12mm aperture, which is large enough to provide a full, unvignetted view of the solar disk at the telescope's native 714mm focal length. This is crucial for observers who want to study the relationship between active regions or trace long filaments as they stretch across the Sun's face.

The B1200 is the workhorse of the Lunt lineup, offering a generous field for visual use and providing ample coverage for imagers using cameras with smaller to medium-sized sensors. While the larger B1800 offers more breathing room for cameras with large sensors, the B1200 is perfectly matched for visual observation and is a more cost-effective choice for those not primarily focused on large-format imaging.

Precision Dual-Speed Focuser

High-magnification solar observing requires a focuser that can make minute, repeatable adjustments without image shift. The LS100MT is equipped with a robust 2-inch dual-speed rack and pinion focuser. The coarse focus knob allows for rapid initial focusing, while the 10:1 fine-focus knob lets you dial in the perfect sharpness needed to see the delicate, hair-like texture of a solar filament or the spicules dancing at the solar limb.

This level of precision is not a luxury, it is a necessity. As atmospheric seeing ebbs and flows, you will constantly make small adjustments to catch moments of perfect clarity. The focuser's solid, zero-slop design ensures that these adjustments are immediate and precise, keeping your target perfectly centered and sharp when the seeing steadies for that fleeting second.

A Modular Telescope for Day and Night

A key advantage of the LS100MT is its modular design. The internal H-alpha module can be easily removed, allowing the ED doublet objective and tube assembly to be used as a high-quality nighttime astronomical telescope. This two-in-one capability makes the LS100MT an exceptional value for the serious amateur astronomer.

With the addition of a standard star diagonal, the 100mm ED objective becomes a powerful instrument for observing the planets, the Moon, and brighter deep-sky objects. The same optical quality that provides razor-sharp solar views delivers pinpoint stars and high-contrast planetary details. This versatility means your investment is not locked into a single celestial object, but serves as your primary instrument for any target, day or night.

Safe and Easy Solar Targeting

Aiming a telescope at the Sun without looking through it is a critical safety challenge. The LS100MT solves this with an included Tele-Vue Sol-Searcher. This finder projects a small, safe image of the solar disk onto a rear-facing screen. To align the telescope, you simply move the tube until the solar image is centered on the screen, a process that is both intuitive and completely safe.

Observing the Sun with 100mm of Aperture

With a good quality eyepiece yielding around 70x, the full solar disk is a seething ball of detail. Prominences, rendered with high contrast by the <0.7Å etalon, stand out sharply from the limb. As you tune the etalon, you can watch as different layers and structures within a large prominence snap into view. Pushing the magnification to 120x on an active region reveals the dark, complex cores of sunspots and the bright, web-like structure of surrounding plage. It is at this image scale that the Sun's three-dimensional nature becomes apparent, with filaments looking like dark hedgerows suspended over the brighter chromosphere below.

Choosing Your Lunt MT: 80mm vs 100mm

The Lunt MT series offers several apertures, and the choice between them is a balance of performance, portability, and seeing conditions.

• Lunt LS80MT: The 80mm is significantly lighter and more compact, making it an ideal "grab-and-go" solar telescope that excels on smaller mounts. It provides outstanding views and will resolve all major solar features. It is often a better choice for observers who frequently contend with poor atmospheric seeing, as its smaller aperture is less affected by turbulence.
• Lunt LS100MT: The 100mm is the next step up in resolving power. The 25% increase in aperture directly translates to a higher resolution ceiling for fine details like spicules, filamentary structure, and granulation. It requires a more substantial mount and is more sensitive to seeing conditions, but on a steady day, its performance is a clear and significant step above the 80mm. It is the right choice for the observer who wants to push the limits of resolution from their backyard.