DayStar Filters Quark User Manual
DayStar Filters Quark User Manual
DayStar Filters Quark User Manual
To use the filter, plug in the included power supply, then place the
Quark after your telescope’s diagonal and insert an eyepiece or
camera in the rear of the filter. Turn the knob to point straight away
from the light. When the light turns green in about 5-10 minutes
your viewing experience can begin.
Warnings:
Do not disassemble the filter, the blocking element is separated from the
etalon and the complete ssembly must be used together for safe viewing.
Do not power the filter from a computer or cell phone charger as the
Quark requires a high current power supply (> 1.5A) for operation.
For assistance:
Call: 1 (866) 680-6563
Email: [email protected]
Visit: http://www.daystarfilters.com
Cautions & Warnings:
There are no user serviceable parts inside the Quark. Do not
diassemble the unit. Certain components are under pressure and
disassembly can cause permanent damage. All elements are required
for proper operation and removal of any internal component will cause a
malfunction that could result in unfiltered light which can cause blindness
or damage to equipment.
The filter must be plugged in using the supplied power supply. The
etalon cavity is precision heated to regulate the wavelength of the filter
output.
Any other USB power source you wish to use must be rated for at least
1.5 amps at 5 volts. Computer USB ports and cell phone chargers do
not normally support this much power.
After letting the filter come up to temperature and settle, the light will turn
green and viewing can begin.
Knob tuning:
If the image lacks contrast, you may need to adjust the center
wavelength of the filter.
A knob is provided to adjust the center wavelength of the filter. Turn the
knob counter clockwise to lower the wavelength towards the blue by up
to 0.5Å. Turn clockwise to raise the wavelength towards the red by up to
0.5Å. Each click of the knob is 0.1Å.
Additional tuning can be performed, just keep in mind that after every
adjustment of the knob the filter must settle in temperature for
approximately 5-10 minutes before your change becomes effective.
For brief observing sessions with less than 80mm of aperture when not
using a tracking mount, it can be OK to use no energy rejection at all. Be
alert for any rise in temperature of your telescope, diagonal, or Quark.
Please note, a Herschel Wedge or white light filter cannot be used with
the Quark. These filters pass very little light by design and so will result
in an extremely dark image if used with the Quark.
How it works:
Light from the telescope enters the blocking filter (at left), where
wavelengths near H alpha are transmitted while the rest are reflected
back out. Red H alpha light then passes through the telecentric barlow
lens elements to achieve a slower focal ratio, more parallel light beam.
The Etalon passes a very narrow range of light wavelengths, but it is
sensitive to temperature and light angle. In the Quark, the Etalon is
heated to approximately 100-150°F to control the wavelength passed,
and the telecentric barlow controls the angle of light entering the Etalon.
Do not touch the internal, optical elements of the filter assembly. While
the exterior glass surface coatings are durable, they are easily
scratched. A few specks of dust will have no effect on the quality of the
image, and may be gently blown off with a squeeze bulb. Do NOT use
compressed air cans to blow dust off any optical surfaces. Small
amounts of residual 'film' will not affect visual performance. Fingerprints,
smudges and smears must be cleaned off. Preferred cleaning method is
to return the Quark to the DayStar Filters laboratory for proper factory
cleaning.
Do not unscrew, open or separate your Quark filter assembly. The optical
elements are held under pressure by design and will become damaged if
opened. Opening the optical filter assembly will void your warranty. The
safest cleaning method is to moisten a very soft, lint-free tissue, cloth or
"Qtip" with a pure acetone, methanol, or Isopropyl Alcohol (reagent
grade) and gently whisk away the stain. Do not apply solutions directly to
the glass surface. Stroke from the center of the aperture outward only.
After each cleaning stroke, use a fresh applicator. The fewer strokes, the
better! The metal housing and other non optical parts are anodized
surfaces and can be cleaned with Windex.
Eyepiece Selection:
Daystar Recommends Tele Vue Plossl series
eyepieces of 25mm, 32mm, and 40mm.
Other brands do offer Plossl eyepieces in 32-40mm and they can give a
respectable performance in lieu of a Tele Vue. We have also found
some of the very old wide field "Erfle" eyepieces aren't bad for an
experienced observer. It should be noted that repeatedly in side-by-
side tests, we found Tele Vue brand Plossl eyepieces to offer the highest
contrast, most even view and widest exit pupil. In Solar Observing,
contrast is achieved by control of scattering. Tele Vue Plossls stand out
in superior design. Furthermore, the adjustable eye cup offers additional
contrast by allowing the user to dark adapt during sunny days.
DayStar Filters are high power viewing platforms and this high resolution
can be susceptible to seeing issues. Solar Observers using high
powered, high resolution telescopes and DayStar filters should heed
daytime seeing. While many of these conditions are beyond our control,
observing in an area with ideal conditions, without pavement in the
direction of viewing, and on days with no high cirrus will offer best
results. Grass is the best environment for daytime seeing stability.
Each observing location offers different behavior for daytime seeing cells
at different times of the day, as the air through which one views changes
with movement of the sun. Some locations benefit from best seeing in
the morning, while many have best seeing in the afternoon. Because
most heat variation between air and ground surfaces occurs within the
first 10 feet above the ground, often a high observing platform will offer
superior seeing. This might include a second story deck which overlooks
grass.
Solar Imaging Tips:
Daystar recommends
MONOCHROME CCD
imaging whenever
possible for best results.
The recent availability of
CCD cameras and DSLR
cameras has offered a
simple opportunity for
solar observers to image
the Sun in Hydrogen
Alpha with a Digital SLR
camera. Please be advised, however, that due to the nature of
monochromatic light and its effects on a CCD camera, certain negative
effects are likely to occur.
Bit depth:
Focal reducers:
Because of the long effective focal length at the output of the Quark, the
image scale will be quite large and small (1/2” or below) image sensors
will only capture a fraction of the whole solar disk in one frame. Large
pixel sizes (9 microns and above) will enable a larger field of view.
Filaments appear as
large, dark eyebrows
across the surface of
the Sun.
With a brightness of
about 10% of the disk
due to scattering,
they appear
dark on the surface, but on the limb, show as a prominence. Active
Region Filaments (ARF) differ from Quiescent Region Filaments (QRF).
ARF are darker, smaller and have more coherent fibril structure along
their axis. A sheared magnetic field runs parallel to this axis, permitting a
sizeable flare. QRF may produce a big Coronal Mass Ejection (CME). An
ARF may erupt and reform several times.
Spicules dominate
the chromospheres in
non-active regions
and have been
studied exhaustively.
They are barely
visible, last only about
15 minutes, and resemble a "burning prarie". Some jets
can be seen shooting 10,000 km up from the Sun's limb at velocities of
about 30km/sec. Studied exhaustively, they present a number of
observing challenges, as they are too small to resolve and move so
quickly as to present wing-shift challenges.
Field Transition
Arches (FTA's)
connect P and F
spots – elements of
opposite polarity.
Inside an active
region, where
sunspots are
originally linked by a
FTA, a shear boundary forms. Field Transition Arches are different from
filaments in that they are thin and not very dark. The
FTA usually has plage or granular structure underneath.
Solar Flares are intense, abrupt releases of energy which occur in areas
where the magnetic field is changing by flux emergence or sunspot
motion. Stresses in lines of force build up slowly and are released in
flares. They occur most frequently at neutral lines where a filament is
supported by horizontal sheared field lines. This event can only take
place along a magnetic inversion line. When many lines of force are
involved, two ribbons of emission appear, brightening simultaneously.
Emerging Flux
Regions: An area on
the Sun where a
magnetic dipole, or
"flux tube" is
surfacing on the disk,
eventually producing
a bipolar sunspot group. Each pole of an EFR is often marked by pores
or small developing sunspots. Surges or even small solar flares can
sometimes occur in EFRs. An EFR emerges with small bright H region
with little surges, then weak arch filaments (AFS) over bright plage
connect small spots on each dipole. Growth is rapid, forming in just a few
hours.
Troubleshooting:
Blank, featureless disk:
Ensure power is applied and LED is green.
Try moving focus in and out by 1-2 inches (2-5cm).
Ensure Quark is installed AFTER diagonal.
Make sure a 25 to 40mm eyepiece (not included) is installed.
Ensure knob is pointing straight away from the power jack.
Check for focuser droop, all connections between telescope and
Quark must be tight and square.
Poor contrast:
Check that optical surfaces are clean. Dust specks do not affect
the view, check for smudges such as oil from fingerprints.
Try adjusting wing shift knob up 3-4 clicks clockwise past center
and wait 5-10 minutes. If that does not improve the view, try down 3-4
clicks below center and wait 5-10 minutes.
Atmospheric seeing or transparency may be poor, try again later.
Blurry image:
Blurry views are typically due to poor seeing. Poor seeing can
be caused by the presence of heat waves from concrete, asphalt, or
machinery. Weather effects like the jet stream can also cause blurring.
Try moving to a different location or else observe on a day when weather
conditions are improved.
Wavelength: 6562.8Å
Tuning knob: Wing shift +/- 0.5Å in 0.1Å increments.
FWHM: Not specified. Prominence units are generally 0.6Å or
above, Chromosphere units generally 0.5Å or below.
Sun side: 1.25” and 2.0” combo male snouts with safety indent.
Focal point: 1.25” snout requires approx. 8mm in-focus.
2” requires approx. 10mm out-focus.
Eyepiece side: 1.25” female drawtube.
Brass compression ring to protect eyepiece.
Optional 2" and SCT accessories available.
Correc
ct Disposal of This Productt:
(Waste Electrica al & Electronic Eqquipment)
(Applicable in the European Union and oth her European
countries with separate
s collection systems)
This marking shown
s on the pro oduct or its litera
ature, indicate
that it should not be disposed withw other househ hold wastes at
the end of its working life
e. To prevent posssible harm to the environment
or human health from un ncontrolled waste disposal, please e separate this
from othher types of wasstes and recycle it responsibly to o promote the
sustainabble reuse of ma aterial resources. This product should
s not be
mixed with
w other comme ercial wastes pu urchased this pro oduct, or their
local govvernment office, for
f details of whe ere and how they y can take item
for environmentally safe recycling. Busine ess users should d contact their
supplier and check the terms
t and condittions of the purchase contract.
Househo old users should d contact eitherr the retailer where they for
disposal..
Copyright:
This man
nual copyright © DayStar
D Filters 20
014, all rights res
served.
Warranty:
Blockers and trimmers are considered a wear item and only warranteed
on a pro-rated five year term.