This is a reminder about the dangers of solar observing and/or making modifications to your scopes for solar viewing, especially the PST.

The PST is a very specialized instrument and any changes to a scope like this could be extremely hazardous. Changing the spacing between the Etalon and the diagonal (which contains IR blocking) could result in the light path changing and more energy reaching the eye. The damage would be done without any physical warning. Also, there is a risk of the modified scope breaking or shifting, even parts of it falling off while viewing.

I would like to add that one of our main tenets here on Cloudy Nights is that we are a family oriented site. With this doctrine comes certain responsibilities that we take seriously. Safety is one of them. Cloudy Nights will not host any discussions or threads that have to do with modifying these telescopes for solar observing. This includes images and discussions of disassembled PST's.

Please respect the position we have taken and abide by it.