The Sun is one of the most dynamic objects in the sky, but observing it well requires two things: a telescope capable of revealing the chromosphere and a mount capable of keeping it centered. The Heliostar 100 with Wave 100i combines both in a single package. The Heliostar reveals prominences, filaments, plages, and solar activity in hydrogen-alpha light, while the Wave 100i automatically tracks the Sun throughout the day. The result is a solar observing system that lets you spend your time observing instead of constantly recentering the target.
The Heliostar: Why H-Alpha
A white-light solar filter shows the photosphere: the bright, visible surface of the Sun. An H-alpha telescope shows the chromosphere: the layer above the photosphere, attached to the magnetic field, where prominences, filaments, and flares appear. The difference is dramatic. The chromosphere is invisible in white light. In hydrogen-alpha light at 656.3 nanometers, it shines. The Heliostar uses a double-stack etalon design that delivers a native bandpass of less than 0.55 angstroms — the same contrast level that other H-alpha scopes require a separate, expensive etalon filter to achieve. The Heliostar does it out of the box.
The Wave 100i: Why a Strain Wave Mount
A traditional equatorial mount uses a worm gear and worm wheel to drive the telescope in right ascension. The worm wheel is large and heavy. It introduces backlash — a delay when the motor reverses direction, causing the telescope to wobble slightly before settling into the new position. For visual observing, worm-gear mounts are adequate. For imaging, backlash is a problem. Strain wave drives (also called harmonic drives) replace the worm gear with a flexible spline and a wave generator. The result: a 300:1 gear reduction with virtually zero backlash. When you tell the mount to move, it moves. When you tell it to stop, it stops. For solar observation, this means faster GoTo slews and more precise tracking corrections. The Wave 100i is a 9.5-pound mount head that carries the 13.2-pound Heliostar without a counterweight.
What's in the Kit
What's Included
The Heliostar 100 with Wave 100i isn't a telescope that arrives missing half the pieces needed to use it. This is a complete solar observing system built around one of the most capable hydrogen-alpha telescopes Sky-Watcher has ever produced and one of the most innovative mounts in their lineup.
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Sky-Watcher Heliostar 100 Hydrogen-Alpha Solar Telescope – A 100mm dedicated solar telescope designed to reveal prominences, filaments, plages, active regions, and the constantly changing structure of the solar chromosphere in remarkable detail.
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Sky-Watcher Wave 100i Harmonic Drive Mount Head – Compact, lightweight, and capable of automatically tracking the Sun throughout an observing session. Operates in both Alt-Azimuth and Equatorial modes for visual observing, outreach, imaging, and time-lapse work.
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Heavy-Duty Stainless Steel Tripod – A stable field tripod that provides a solid foundation for the entire system. Included as part of the package so you're not left shopping for a suitable support after the telescope arrives.
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22mm Eyepiece – Provides a comfortable full-disk solar view, making it easy to explore prominences, active regions, and surface detail across the entire Sun.
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Solar Finder – Allows quick and safe alignment on the Sun without ever looking directly at it.
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SynScan Hand Controller – Provides full mount control, GoTo operation, and tracking functions right out of the box.
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Required Mounting Hardware and Accessories – Everything needed to assemble the telescope, mount, and tripod into a complete working system.
Add a suitable 12V power source, step outside on a clear day, and you're ready to explore our nearest star. No additional mount, tripod, or major accessories are required to begin observing.
EQ Mode
EQ mode is ideal for long visual sessions, solar imaging, and time-lapse photography where maintaining precise framing over extended periods is important.
AZ Mode: Quick Setup for Visual Sessions
Equatorial tracking requires polar alignment, which adds setup time. If you want quick visual observing without alignment, use AZ mode. In alt-azimuth, the Wave 100i tracks in both axes simultaneously — no polar alignment required. The Sun stays centered. This mode is ideal for outreach events, public observing sessions, and casual viewing. The included secondary saddle lets you mount a second instrument on the opposite side of the mount for dual-scope setups (a guide scope or a white-light solar filter scope alongside the Heliostar, for instance).
Connectivity and Automation
The Wave 100i connects to your smartphone or tablet via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, using Sky-Watcher's SynScan app. Point and click to GoTo the Sun. For deeper automation — plate-solving, framing, and multi-target sequencing — connect the USB-B cable (included) to a "computer" like the ZWO ASIair and let it do all the heavy lifting for you.
Practical Features
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Strain wave drive, zero backlash. The motor response is immediate. Guiding corrections are precise. No reversal delay.
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22 lb unweighted payload. The Heliostar (13.2 lbs) plus typical imaging accessories sits comfortably within range. No counterweight needed.
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Dual D/V hybrid saddles. Accept both Losmandy and Vixen dovetail standards. The Heliostar's V-style dovetail mounts directly.
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EQ and AZ modes. Equatorial tracking for long sessions and imaging. Alt-azimuth for quick visual observing and outreach.
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Dual saddles in AZ mode. Mount the Heliostar on one saddle and a second scope or camera lens on the other. Both track simultaneously.
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Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. Wireless control via SynScan app or integration with ASIAir. USB-B cable for direct computer control included.
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2400x slew rate. Fast GoTo slews. Point at the Sun and arrive in seconds, not minutes.
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RA power-off braking. When you cut power, the telescope holds its position. No swing-free drift.
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Red LED latitude scale. Set your latitude in darkness without a white light source ruining your night vision. Works equally well in daylight for solar observing.
Multi-Hour Solar Sessions
Here is a typical workflow: Set up the tripod with the Wave 100i head in the early morning. Mount the Heliostar using the V-style dovetail. Set the latitude adjustment screws to your location (30°N for Norman, Oklahoma). Connect the 12V power supply. Open the SynScan app on your tablet. Align the mount on the Sun using the integrated Heliostar solar finder. Set the Wave 100i to EQ mode and enable sidereal tracking. Focus the Heliostar and adjust the etalon tuner. Now observe. As the hours pass and the Sun moves across the sky, the RA motor continuously adjusts, keeping the solar disk centered in your eyepiece. You see prominences evolve, sunspot groups rotate into view, and filaments shift in the chromosphere. Without automated tracking, you would spend half your time manually recentering the Sun. With the Wave 100i, you observe.
Outreach and Educational Use
Public observing events benefit greatly from AZ mode and automated tracking. Set up the Wave 100i in alt-azimuth, center the Sun, and enable tracking. Your visitors can look through the eyepiece continuously without the Sun drifting away. If you have a camera adapter (sold separately) and a display monitor, you can show live video of the solar disk, prominences, and filaments to a large group simultaneously. The ease of use and the ability to keep the Sun centered make solar observing accessible to observers of all experience levels.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a counterweight kit?
No. The Heliostar at 13.2 pounds sits well within the Wave 100i's 22-pound unweighted payload. If you add heavy imaging equipment (a ZWO or FLIR camera with motorized focus and filter wheel), you might approach the limit, but a counterweight is not necessary for the Heliostar scope alone.
Can I use this for imaging?
Yes. A planetary camera adapter (sold separately) allows you to mount a ZWO or similar camera in place of the eyepiece. The Wave 100i's strain wave drive and zero-backlash tracking make it excellent for solar video and time-lapse imaging. Use ASIAir for automated sequencing or control from a computer running N.I.N.A., Sequence Generator Pro, or equivalent software.
What if I want to image in EQ mode with autoguiding?
The Wave 100i supports autoguider input via an RJ-12 jack on the hand controller. Connect a guidescope and guide camera, run PHD2 or similar guiding software on your computer, and the Wave 100i will receive corrections from the guide camera. For solar observing, this is rarely necessary — the atmosphere moves faster than the scale you can resolve, so guiding improves little. But the capability is there.
What software works with the Wave 100i?
Sky-Watcher's SynScan app is the default. For imaging automation, ZWO's ASIAir (with included USB-B cable) is the standard. The mount also supports ASCOM and INDI protocols, so N.I.N.A., Sequence Generator Pro, KStars/Ekos, and other imaging software on Windows or Linux will work. For simple GoTo and tracking, SynScan app on a smartphone is all you need.
Accessories You Will Need
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12V power supply. A lithium field battery with 12V DC output (5.5mm barrel plug, center-positive) is the standard for portable use. A 6–10Ah battery will power the mount for 8+ hours.
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Camera adapter. For planetary camera imaging. Sold separately.
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Additional eyepieces. The 22mm included gives 35x. For detail work, try 9mm (85x) or 5mm (152x) eyepieces.
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ASIAir controller (optional). For fully automated plate-solving, framing, and sequencing.
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Counterweight kit (optional). Only needed if you exceed 22 pounds of payload. Not necessary for the Heliostar scope alone.
Final Thoughts
The Heliostar 100 reveals the dynamic chromosphere in remarkable detail. The Wave 100i keeps that detail centered and easy to enjoy. Together they create a solar observing system that is portable, precise, and simple to use—whether you're observing alone in the backyard or sharing the Sun with a crowd at an outreach event.
