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Lunt Herschel Wedge - 2"
Lunt Herschel Wedge - 2"
Lunt Herschel Wedge - 2"
Lunt Herschel Wedge - 2"

Lunt Herschel Wedge - 2"

by Lunt Solar Systems
SKU LSS-LS2HW
CA$525.00 - CA$525.00
CA$525.00
CA$525.00 - CA$525.00
CA$525.00
Price Match Policy!
  • For White Light Solar Observing
  • Provides Superior Image Contrast and Sharpness
  • Integrated Neutral Density Filter for Safe Imaging
  • Designed for Refractors with up to 6" of Aperture
  • 2" Barrel and Eyepiece Holder
1 in stock
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  • Description
  • FAQ
  • Specifications
  • In the Box
  • Downloads
  • Warranty

  • Lunt Herschel Wedge - 2"

    The Lunt 2" Herschel Wedge is engineered for uncompromising white light solar observation, delivering superior contrast for viewing and imaging the sun's photosphere. It is designed for use in refractor telescopes up to 6" in aperture and includes an integrated ND3 filter for safe, direct-to-camera solar imaging. This 2" diagonal provides a high-fidelity alternative to front-mounted solar films or glass filters, revealing finer details in sunspots and granulation.

    The Highest-Contrast Views of the Solar Photosphere

    A Herschel wedge, or solar diagonal, provides the sharpest and highest-contrast views of the sun's surface possible in white light. Unlike traditional filters that fit over the front of your telescope, the wedge uses a precision prism to reject most of the sun's energy, passing only a small, safe fraction to the eyepiece. This method minimizes internal reflections and scattered light, resulting in a darker sky background and resolving finer details in sunspot umbra, penumbra, and solar granulation.

    The Lunt 2" Herschel Wedge includes a factory-installed ND3 filter, which provides the necessary light reduction for safe use with imaging cameras. For visual observation, an additional polarizing filter (sold separately) is recommended; threading one onto your eyepiece allows you to rotate the eyepiece to adjust the view to a comfortable brightness.

    Engineered for Refractors up to 6" in Aperture

    This solar diagonal is designed exclusively for use with refractor telescopes, as reflecting telescopes (like Newtonians or SCTs) have a secondary mirror that can be damaged by the concentrated solar energy. The Lunt 2" Wedge is optimized for refractors with apertures of 6" or less, safely managing the thermal load from these instruments.

    Its mechanical design replaces your standard star diagonal, and if your telescope can achieve focus with a typical diagonal, it will reach focus with the Lunt Wedge. The 2" barrel fits securely into any standard 2" focuser, and the eyepiece holder accepts 2" eyepieces and accessories, allowing for wide-field scans of the entire solar disk.

    Lunt 2" vs. 1.25" Wedge: Matching the Diagonal to Your Aperture

    Lunt offers two sizes of their Herschel Wedge to match different telescopes. While the smaller 1.25" model is an excellent, compact choice for refractors up to 4" in aperture, this 2" model is the required choice for larger instruments.

    • 1.25" Lunt Wedge: Best suited for smaller, portable refractors up to 4" in aperture. It is lighter and more compact.
    • 2" Lunt Wedge: This model is necessary for refractors between 4" and 6" in aperture to properly and safely handle the increased light and heat. It also offers the advantage of using 2" eyepieces, providing a much wider true field of view.

  • Is the Lunt 2" Herschel Wedge safe for my eyes right out of the box?

    The wedge includes a built-in ND3 filter that makes it safe for imaging. However, for direct visual use, the image will still be extremely bright. Lunt strongly recommends adding a separate polarizing filter to the barrel of your eyepiece. By rotating the eyepiece, you can then dim the image to a comfortable level for safe visual observation.

    Can I use the Lunt 2" Herschel Wedge on my 8" SCT or Newtonian reflector?

    Absolutely not. A Herschel wedge must only be used with a refractor telescope. In a reflector or Schmidt-Cassegrain, the wedge would be placed after the primary and secondary mirrors, which would concentrate intense heat and light on the secondary mirror and internal components. This will cause catastrophic damage to your telescope and can lead to permanent eye injury.

    How will sunspots look through the Lunt 2" Wedge in my 120mm f/7 refractor?

    The view will be exceptionally detailed. You can expect to see sharp, high-contrast definition between the dark umbra and the filamentary penumbra of sunspots. The wedge will also reveal the granular texture of the entire solar surface (the photosphere), which often appears as a subtle "rice grain" pattern under steady seeing conditions.

    Why should I choose the Lunt 2" wedge over the 1.25" model for my 5" refractor?

    The 2" Lunt Wedge is specifically recommended for any refractor with an aperture of 4" or more. The larger prism and housing are designed to better manage the heat and light gathered by the larger objective lens. Additionally, the 2" model allows you to use 2" eyepieces, enabling much wider true fields of view compared to the 1.25" format.

    Will I see solar flares or prominences with the Lunt 2" Herschel Wedge?

    No. The Lunt Herschel Wedge is a white light solar device, meaning it is designed to show the surface of the sun (the photosphere). Features like prominences, flares, and filaments are visible in a narrow band of light called Hydrogen-alpha and require a specialized, dedicated H-alpha solar telescope or filter system.

    Will I have trouble reaching focus with the Lunt 2" Herschel Wedge?

    Generally, no. The optical path length of the Lunt Wedge is designed to be very similar to that of a standard 2" star diagonal. If your refractor and eyepiece combination can reach focus with a normal diagonal, you should be able to reach focus with the Herschel wedge without any issues.

  • MPN LS2HW
    GTIN LS1.25HW
  • Lunt Solar Systems 5-Year Warranty