The Astronomik SII-CCD filter is a narrow-band-filter for CCD photography.The filter lets the light of the ionized sulfur (SII) pass, and blocks nearly the whole remainder of the visual spectrum as well as IR, in which the CCD is sensitive. The full width at half maximum (FWHM) of 12nm is optimal suitable for common CCD cameras and allows the use of very fast optics. The range of application extends from 1:2.8 to 1:15. Transmission losses and chromatic distortions, which arise with other filters, only occur with Astronomik filters when extremely bright aperture ratios of 1:2 and more come into play. It should be noted, that the filter has a transmission of up to 99%.

Another advantage of the 12nm filters is the good availability of guiding stars for cameras with a built-in-autoguider (SBIG). If you use a very strong filter like our 6nm filter you often won't find a usable guidestar. The Astronomik SII CCD filter increases the contrast between objects, in this case between those with SII emission lines and the skyglow background. Also, our Astronomik SII-CCD filter completely suppresses the emission lines of artificial lighting (mercury (Hg) and sodium (Na)) and skyglow.

The Astronomik SII CCD increases the contrast between objects, in this case between the SII emission line and the skyglow background. Our Astronomik SII CCD completely suppresses the emission lines of artificial lighting (mercury (Hg) and sodium (Na)) and skyglow. Due to the high optical quality of the Astronomik H-alpha-CCD substrate you will see the same needle-sharp stars as you would from your regular telescope.

Using the new H-alpha-CCD and the new SII-CCD filters you can obtain three-color images of emission line objects (gas nebulae) from locations with very strong light pollution. To do so, you would take an image in three different wavelengths, select each one as a color-channel in Photoshop and paste them together as one single color image. If you plan to create color images from emission line data, our CLS-CCD filter is a great choice for the Luminance channel.

Sometimes unmounted filters can be hard to handle. The smaller diameters, such as this 36mm SII filter, can be especially difficult to pick up and insert or remove from the filter wheel, and that can lead to possible damage as well as unwanted reflections from incorrectly installed filters. Astronomik has solved this problem by mounting their 31mm and 36mm filters in a low profile (3mm) non-threaded cell. O-rings, washers, or spacers are no longer required to hold the filter in place, and because the cell is only 3mm thick, it works well in all appropriately sized filter wheels. Mounted 31mm and 36mm Astronomik filters will also play nice with unmounted versions in the same carousel.

• Transmission of over 97% with the SII line (nm)
• Complete blocking of all disturbing wavelength ranges in the infrared
• Parfocal with other Astronomik filters
• Glass thickness: 1mm
• Cell thickness: 3mm
• Completely resistant against high humidity, scratches and aging effects
• Diffraction limited, the filter will not reduce the optical performance of your telescope!
• Astronomik filters are delivered in a high-quality, long lasting, filter box