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Daystar Sodium Quark Solar Filter
Daystar Sodium Quark Solar Filter
Daystar Sodium Quark Solar Filter

Daystar Sodium Quark Solar Filter

by Daystar Filters
SKU DAY-DSZSD
CA$1,813.00 - CA$1,813.00
CA$1,813.00
CA$1,813.00 - CA$1,813.00
CA$1,813.00
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  • Observes the Sodium D-Line at 5890 Å
  • Bandpass of approximately 0.3-0.5 Angstroms
  • Integrated 4.2X Telecentric Barlow Lens
  • Designed for F/4 to F/9 Refracting Telescopes
  • All-in-one, eyepiece-sized solar filter
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  • Daystar Sodium Quark Solar Filter

    The Daystar Sodium Quark Solar Filter isolates the brilliant 5890 Å Sodium D-line with a bandpass of approximately 0.3-0.5 angstroms, revealing high-contrast details across the solar photosphere. This all-in-one unit integrates a custom 4.2X telecentric Barlow lens, making it fully optimized for any refracting telescope with a focal ratio between F/4 and F/9. The result is a simple, eyepiece-sized device that delivers sharp, flat-field views of sunspots, plage, and granulation with significantly shorter exposure times than other narrowband wavelengths.

    High-Contrast Solar Details at the 5890 Å Sodium D-Line

    The Sodium D-line offers a unique and intensely bright window into the Sun's photosphere. With the Sodium Quark's sub-angstrom bandpass, you can resolve fine sunspot structure, bright patches of plage, and the textured pattern of solar granulation. Under excellent seeing conditions, even the larger super-granulation cells may become visible, alongside the flare footprints known as flare kernels.

    Because the Sodium D-line is brighter than both Calcium and Hydrogen-alpha, visual observation is easier and imaging exposures are dramatically shorter. This allows you to capture fleeting moments of excellent seeing and freeze atmospheric turbulence for sharper results, revealing dynamic features that are often washed out at other wavelengths.

    Integrated 4.2X Telecentric Barlow for F/4-F/9 Refractors

    Daystar's "All-In-One" design eliminates the complexity of traditional solar filter setups by combining a Fabry-Perot etalon and a fully optimized 4.2X telecentric barlow into a single, compact unit. This design ensures the filter receives the parallel light beam it needs to perform correctly, regardless of your refractor's native focal length, as long as it falls within the F/4 to F/9 range. The custom telecentric optics also ensure a uniformly illuminated and sharp, flat field from edge to edge.

    • Simple Operation: Just insert the Sodium Quark into your 1.25" or 2" diagonal, add an eyepiece, and you are ready to observe. No complex adapters or spacing calculations are required.
    • Lightweight Design: The compact, eyepiece-sized form factor eliminates unnecessary weight and components, making it easy to balance on any mount.
    • On-Axis Use Only: This filter is engineered for on-axis use in refracting telescopes and is not suitable for off-axis solar scopes or other designs.

    Sodium vs. H-alpha: Why the 5890 Å Line is Brighter

    While Hydrogen-alpha filters are the standard for viewing the chromosphere and dramatic prominences on the solar limb, the Sodium Quark targets the photosphere with a key advantage: brightness. The light emitted at the 5890 Å Sodium D-line is inherently more intense than the 6563 Å H-alpha line.

    This increased brightness translates directly into shorter camera exposures and an easier visual experience, reducing eye strain during long observing sessions. While an H-alpha filter is necessary for limb detail, the Sodium Quark excels at delivering high-contrast, high-resolution views of features on the solar disk itself, like the intricate details within sunspot umbra and penumbra.

  • What solar features can I see with the Daystar Sodium Quark?

    The Daystar Sodium Quark is designed to reveal features in the Sun's photosphere. You can expect to see high-resolution details in sunspots, bright areas of plage, and the convection cells of granulation. Under steady seeing, larger super-granulation patterns and the base of solar flares (flare kernels) may also be visible.

    How is the Sodium Quark different from a Hydrogen-alpha Quark?

    They view different layers of the Sun. An H-alpha Quark shows the chromosphere, famous for solar prominences, filaments, and surface texture. The Sodium Quark shows the deeper photosphere at the 5890 Å wavelength, which is better for sunspot detail and granulation. The Sodium view is also significantly brighter, allowing for shorter imaging exposures.

    Will my 80mm f/6 refractor work well with the Sodium Quark?

    Yes, perfectly. The Sodium Quark is optimized for any refractor with a focal ratio between F/4 and F/9. An 80mm f/6 refractor falls right in that range and will provide excellent views. You do not need any additional optical correctors; simply insert the Quark into your diagonal.

    Do I need a separate energy rejection filter (ERF) with the Sodium Quark?

    For refractors under 80mm of aperture, typically no front-mounted ERF is required for visual use. For refractors over 80mm, or for any imaging application, a front-mounted UV/IR cut filter or a dedicated ERF is strongly recommended to reduce heat entering the telescope and the Quark itself.

    How does the Sodium Quark show solar flares compared to an H-alpha filter?

    An H-alpha filter shows the entire structure of a solar flare as it erupts into the chromosphere. The Sodium Quark shows the "flare footprints" or flare kernels on the photosphere. These are the intensely bright, compact points at the base of the magnetic loops where the flare originates, offering a different perspective on the event's energy release.

    What power supply does the Daystar Sodium Quark use?

    The Quark requires a 5V DC power source to heat its internal etalon to the precise operating temperature. The product description notes that its low power consumption allows it to run all day from a small, palm-sized optional battery pack. A standard power adapter is not listed as an included accessory.

  • Wavelength Sodium D-Line (5890 Å)
    Bandpass (FWHM) Approx. 0.3 - 0.5 Angstroms
    Internal Barlow 4.2x Telecentric Lens
    Recommended Telescope Type Refractors
    Recommended Focal Ratio F/4 - F/9
    Filter Application On-axis only (not for off-axis use)

    • Daystar Sodium Quark Solar Filter

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