Spectrum 60 : NOW SHIPPING!!
The brand new Spectrum 60 Upgrade for your PST! Increases objective aperture by 50% for substantial gains in resolution. Up-sizes your blocking filter by 100% from 5mm to 10mm for a brighter, wider field to accommodate the larger and more detailed image created by the new 60mm F/10 S-60 objective lens! It really works!!
Special Introductory Price through Denkmeier-Direct Only!
Place your shopping cart order now and benefit from our introductory price of $599 plus S/H. This is valid for only the first 100 orders. We have a few spots available right now so there is still some time. Follow these easy instructions:
1. Click to place Spectrum 60 in shopping cart.
2. Price of $599 will appear
3. Under "Comments", include the serial number on your PST. Note: The "Comments" box appears several steps into the process of making the purchase in the Shopping Cart checkout.
4. Send us your PST Scope following instructions on this page.
5. In approximately 2-4 weeks, we will return your "new" Spectrum 60 Upgraded PST!
Shipping Instructions:
Att: "S60 Upgrade"
Denkmeier C/O STF
135 Marcus Blvd
Hauppauge, NY 11788
Note: It is a good idea to place some tape on your PST tube assembly prior to shipping to us with your name and serial number written on it.
6. We will convert your PST with our Spectrum 60 Upgrade and return it to you.
7. Optional Accessories: Check back on this webpage to view pricing, details and then you may select from the following options:
Hard Aluminum Case, Clampshell Mount, Tele Vue Sol Ranger Finder, and perhaps some other available upgrades to be announced.
Note: The PST, now outfitted with the Spectrum 60 will be returned in a strong cardboard shipping box (rated 200 lb) with high quality custom cut PE foam made in USA. The original PST tube will also be included in the box that contains the Solar Spectrum 60. We do not recommend that you ship us your PST in it's original case. If original packing container is sent to us and you wish for us to return it, an additional shipping charge will be required.
About The Spectrum 60
Increase in Resolution
Since the resolving power of a lens is related to the aperture, increasing the lens diameter will produce a more highly resolved image of a given target provided that other aberrations are not introduced when doing so. Frequently cited are The Dawes, Raleigh and Sparrow limits. These methods, sometimes used to predict the resolving power of an objective lens to separate two points of light such as the Airy Discs produced by a telescopic image of a double star, are based on telescope aperture and either mathematical formula or observational evidence. According to these methods used to determine resolving power, fine structure on the solar disc will be more highly resolved in a Solar Telescope that utilizes a larger objective lens. The value of using a larger aperture telescope is self evident and illustrated by the push for larger diameter lenses and mirrors that permeates the astronomy equipment industry.
The upgraded Spectrum 60 objective lens provides a 50% increase in aperture compared with the 40mm lens and this means that theoretical resolution is increased accordingly. It should be noted that the PST's internal H-a Etalon filter characteristics will remain the same in terms of bandwidth not being narrowed. While the Spectrum 60 larger objective lens produces a higher resolution solar image, the bandpass and inherent properties of a given Etalon filter will be unchanged but still will be provided with the Solar image produced by the new 60mm objective and selective Solar Spectrum 60 filters. Certainly, a raw image of The Sun that exhibits higher resolution means that a more detailed image will be processed by a given Etalon filter housed within a PST. This will result in greater detail of fine features such as filamentary structure of prominences and surface detail on the Solar Disc, if they are present at the time of observation.
Quality And Safety of Components
Every component including the three-element 60mm objective lens assembly, BF10 Filter and the mechanical parts have been very carefully designed for optimum performance. The 60mm Objective lens assembly offers diffraction limited performance, with blocking from ultraviolet to far Infrared to 10^-5 to ensure the safety of the observer. The upgraded BF10 Module replaces the 5mm blocking filter module of the PST at the eyepiece section. This 10mm clear aperture BF filter is set in a fully machined holder. The 10mm clear aperture accommodates the larger image size of the Solar disc produced by the 60mm F/10 objective and can also be used for photography where the image scale has been increased by way of a barlow. This larger image is normally produced when a barlow lens is used to allow the camera to reach focus and the BF 10 may be advantageous in that regard allowing a more even illumination of the solar disc. An upgraded fully machined focuser knob is also included to improve ease of focusing.
Spectrum Thin Films: http://spectrumthinfilms.com/
A First Light for the Spectrum 60: Observations on December 16th, 2009:
Sky was finally very clear, transparent, temperature in the upper 30s Farenheit. Observation from Maryland. Comparison of my own typical PST and then same PST with installed upgrades consisting of a BF 10 Blocking Filter in the PST Diagonal, The Spectrum 60 tube assembly with 60mm objective lens and select proprietary filtration. Time : 1PM EST
Using the PST as it has always been with standard parts, the Sun looked small, fairly sharp using the D21 Denkmeier eyepiece. There was some nice surface detail after carefully tuning the tilt of the etalon via the PST's original tuning mechanism and focusing using the PST focus knob. An area of sunspots was located in upper right area of the lower left quadrant with a nice spot also in the lower part of the upper right quadrant. I could see no prominences on the edge of the solar disc though.
I then outfitted the PST with the Spectrum 60 parts for a careful comparison in the same conditions. The solar finder built into the PST was usable, though the Sun's image disappeared when it was close to the center of the tiny finder 's screen. This was due to the larger aperture 60mm objective that now increased the aperture by 50%. Would this gain in aperture translate into increased resolution in practice and be observed in this test? We know in theory this incease in resolution is a must, provided that the objective is made to very high standards (we did produce the components to very high standards). My first impression viewing the same sunspot groups left no doubt. The resolution boost was obvious, and in was more noticable than I would have expected. I was very pleased. I looked around the disc, tuned a bit and there was a very nice double prominence at the 10 o'clock position angle. I could see the finest detail within the prominence structure and did not have to strain to pull out detail. Focus snapped beautifully, especially when seeing steadied. I also noticed several minute prominences in the 7PM position angle area as well. These were so tiny and fine, that amazed me at how sharp they were.
Switching at all back to the original PST configuration, I worked on finding the prominence at 10 PM position. There it was. But, it was smaller since the image scale was reduced in the 40mm objective, and detail within the prominence could not be pulled out. I was straining. I could not find the very tiny prominences and the image was smaller and dimmer. It just required so much more work to extract detail on the surface. The prominence at 10PM was there, but I could not see the fine structure within it. Assembling and viewing once again with the Spectrum 60, I could immediately sense the increase in resolution and brightness. The BF 10 also created a larger field of view, and a much brighter image as well. Pupil placement was much less critical with the BF 10 employed. To check this, I loaded the BF 5 in the Spectrum 60 upgrade after removing the BF10. The view was diminished in brightness even on axis, and the narrowness was noticeable. Pupil placement became more critical as well. I was confident at this point that I had examined the real differences that all of you could expect. Theory is interesting and a driving force behind creativity, but observations should bear out the advantages of any new system, or it remains a paper gain only. In this case, I am very pleased that Tony Pirera's creation is a worthy first product that we are offering in the H-a arena! Tony is President of Spectrum Thin Films in NY and co-owner of Denkmeier Optical.
Eyepieces
The Denkmeier D21s worked wonderfully and I was always a bit hesitant to recommend the D14s due to the higher magnification produced. In this test, the D14s worked amazingly well also. The Spectrum 60 can hold up to higher magnification demands without a doubt. This is a very big added advantage.
The New Spectrum 60 Upgrade For The PST®
Production of The Spectrum 60 is taking place at this time at Denkmeier Optical, Inc. Facilities at Spectrum Thin Films in Hauppauge NY
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