Baader 2" Cool-Ceramic Safety Herschel Prism Mark II Visual

W A R N I N G

Looking at or near the Sun will cause instant and irreversible damage to your eyes, including blindness. Eye damage is often painless, so there is no warning to the observer that damage has occurred until it is too late. Do not point a telescope or its viewfinder at or near the Sun. Do not look through a telescope or its viewfinder as it is moving.

The full aperture of any instrument that is pointed at the sun must be covered with a proper solar filter or filter/mask combination.

Children and Visitors should be supervised by an adult at all times when partaking in solar observation. Otherwise, keep solar equipment out of a child's and visitors reach to avoid accidental injury.

Please read all manuals before use!

• ONLY suitable for refractors (WITHOUT flattener/reducer in the beam path)! Utilizes the high optical quality of the refractor lens
• 2" Herschel wedge prism – Phantom Group® anti-reflective coating on one side
• Integrated rotation mechanism for optional polarizing filters – the best method for adjusting brightness for visual solar observation and solar photography in white light.
• In combination with the optional 2" polarizing filter (BP#2408342) and the included neutral density (gray) filter, it enables continuous brightness adjustment
• Includes the Baader 7.5 nm Solar Continuum 2" filter (540 nm) for an uncompromisingly sharp solar image
• S58 dovetail mount and safety kerfs on the barrel
• Factory-preset, innovative 3-point adjustment system
• Includes ceramic solar finder
• Safety note: Please read the instruction manual BEFORE use!

Herschel wedges, or Herschel prisms, utilize the full refractor aperture of a telescope and offer the absolute best viewing opportunity: The sun's surface in white light!

The Baader AstroSolar filter foil is a very good introduction to solar observation. Plane-parallel glass solar filters of high optical quality already produce a much better and more detailed image of the sun, surpassed only by a Herschel prism.

The Baader Safety Herschel prism allows only 4.6% of the incoming light to pass through to the eyepiece, blocking out the rest. The remaining light reduction is achieved by the included neutral density filter (ND 3.0) or the Baader Solar Continuum Filter (both pre-installed).

CAUTION: WITHOUT THESE TWO FILTERS, THE SUNLIGHT IS TOO BRIGHT AND YOU RISK PERMANENT EYE DAMAGE!

The much larger, high-energy portion passes through the housing and forms a focal point in the air outside. Even far beyond this focal point, this concentration of light would still be disturbingly bright and dangerous if an inexperienced observer accidentally (or deliberately) looked into the exit beam. Baader has therefore been using light traps with Herschel prisms for years to eliminate this risk. With the closed light trap and Cool-Ceramic protective plate, observing the sun with a Herschel prism is safe for both private individuals and public institutions and schools.

The photographic version includes all the additional, important filters needed to achieve sufficient light for short exposure times at different magnifications – of course, you can purchase these if needed, or if you already have them.

Safety Notice

Please always ensure that the sunlight is adequately filtered when observing visually: otherwise, you risk losing your eyesight (=blindness)!

The filters are always screwed into the filter drawer, which becomes visible by unscrewing the 2" ClickLock eyepiece clamp.

Filters are never(!) screwed into the front of the 2" receptacle, because the sunlight's energy is far too high there and the filters will burst.

Observing should never be done without the neutral density/gray filter and the solar continuum filter (the solar continuum filter can be replaced with a neutral density/gray filter or a simple polarizing filter) - permanent eye damage will otherwise result.

Refractors must absolutely NOT have a rear corrector lens!

Tip: An adjusted telescope is essential for observing solar granulation. You also need very good seeing (air quality/calm air) and high magnification. Dare to use really high magnification! We repeatedly find that many observers make this mistake and therefore don't achieve satisfactory results.

The high optical quality of a Herschel prism/wedge is also important – if you skimp on this, you'll have difficulty seeing the solar granulation clearly, clearly, and with high contrast.

The Baader Cool-Ceramic Safety Herschel Prism Mark II does all of this.

For optimal contrast, we highly recommend our Astrogarten Observation Cloth Professional (black and white). Only with the greatest possible darkening can you achieve the best images you'll never forget.

The advantages of the Safety Cool-Ceramic Herschel Prism - summarized

• Space technology
  A multi-layered light trap made of heat-absorbing heat shields and heat-absorbing special ceramic at the top of the light trap absorbs radiant heat – like the heat tiles on the space shuttle – without overheating the surroundings. The prism also remains temperature-stable for a long time.
• Closed housing
  No risk of glare or fire from the deflected sunlight, allowing safe observation.
• Sun finder
  The ceramic plate also acts as a screen for sunlight bundle. Positioning the sun in the center of the telescope's field of view is child's play.
• ClickLock Eyepiece Clamp
  With a 15° rotation, you can clamp any eyepiece perfectly – even in winter with thick gloves.
• Short Overall Length
  Can be shortened by a further 30mm, e.g., for use with DSLRs or binocular attachments – e.g., with the optional T-2 adapter (Adapter S58a to T-2a – for all BDS Diamond Steeltrack (BP#2957202) or Adapter S58a to M48a – for all BDS Diamond Steeltrack (BP#2957204)).
• Integrated Filter Holder
  All necessary filters are permanently installed in the housing using the rotatable filter holder – no risk when changing eyepieces!
• Adjusting Brightness for Photography
  To allow enough light to pass through for photography at high magnifications, the pre-installed ND3 filter can be replaced with a weaker filter (available separately or included with the Baader Cool-Ceramic Safety Herschel Prism 2" Mark II Photo (BP#2956510P)).
• 3-point adjustment system
  The innovative 3-point adjustment system of the wedge prism is factory-preset.
• Safety kerfs
  on the socket.
• Case
  Sturdy carrying case made of ABS plastic with IP67 gasket and air seal.

Technical Data

Scope of delivery

• Baader 2" Cool-Ceramic Safety Herschel Prism Mark II Visual
• Baader 2" neutral density filter ND 3.0 (preinstalled)
• Baader 2" Solar Continuum filter 7.5 nm (preinstalled)
• Storage Case
• Instruction Manual