Anonymous
Unregistered
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Can anyone help me to set up my refractor to safely observe the sun? I believe the scope can be used to project an enlarged image of the sun onto a screen, but am not sure how to do this without setting fire to things. All help gratefully received.
Peter
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StacyJo
professor emeritus
Reged: 07/08/04
Posts: 639
Loc: Oakland, CA
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Personally, I'd get a hard solar filter that fits at the end of the objective end of the telescope. Orion has a nice one and it's reasonably priced. www.telescope.com
Otherwise, you can project the image of the sun onto a whiteboard, sidewalk, paperplate...check out this link for tips and safety measures:
http://www.spaceweather.com/sunspots/doityourself.html
You can also do pinhole projections and the above site has a link to that.
Hope this helps you and have fun!
Stacy
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Stacy
"Why yes, there is a difference between photon deprivation and PMS"
AKA Konstellation Kitty
M42Gal
Stellarvue Nighthawk II
Orion Starblast 6" Newtonian - newest addition to the family!!!
7x50 Orion Scenix Binoculars
Old 3" Jason Comet Chaser
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ArizonaScott
Postmaster
Reged: 04/29/04
Posts: 5031
Loc: Phoenix, AZ
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I like the inexpensive Baader solution: http://www.dracoproductions.net/baader_solar_filter_material.htm Instructions are on the site for making your own cell.
Very safe, and the color is pretty pleasing.
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Scott
10" LX200 Classic, Konus 200, Orion ST80, ETX90 OTA, 60mm Celestron alt-az, Obie 20x80's, Meade 10x50's
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cildarith
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 08/26/04
Posts: 2122
Loc: San Diego, CA
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This might help:
http://www.greenwich-observatory.co.uk/sunrefract.html
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Eric
6" f/6 Parks Newtonian
10x50 Bushnell Binocs
CN Sketch Gallery
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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I have the metallized glass solar filter from Orion and use it on my Starmax. While it does not compare with H-alpha it is a very good start.
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ArizonaScott
Postmaster
Reged: 04/29/04
Posts: 5031
Loc: Phoenix, AZ
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What kind of scope do you have? Might help with the responses. Thanks, and welcome to CN! 
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Scott
10" LX200 Classic, Konus 200, Orion ST80, ETX90 OTA, 60mm Celestron alt-az, Obie 20x80's, Meade 10x50's
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sienarot
professor emeritus
Reged: 10/18/03
Posts: 708
Loc: Calgary, Alberta, Canada
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Many people prefer the Baader film option. However I'm pretty paranoid about ripping it, so I use the glass filters instead. You might want to check out the Solar forum section:
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Derrick
Sky-Watcher 80ED f/7.5 Refractor
Celestron C8 SCT f/10 SCT
Canon EOS 20D
Logitech Quickcam Pro 4000
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ArizonaScott
Postmaster
Reged: 04/29/04
Posts: 5031
Loc: Phoenix, AZ
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I have a glass filter for my ETX, and Baader for my 8" newt & 20x80's. I prefer the color of the sun a little more through the Baader, and sunspots seem clearer. The color is more of a natural white, rather than the orange view with my glass filter. JMHO, OK?
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Scott
10" LX200 Classic, Konus 200, Orion ST80, ETX90 OTA, 60mm Celestron alt-az, Obie 20x80's, Meade 10x50's
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Cerberus
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 10/16/04
Posts: 2689
Loc: Newton, KS 67114
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I suggest you find a 3X barlow, thats what I use for projection. I stopped using lenses after I burned up a Plossl projecting the sun.
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lighttrap
Reged: 02/06/04
Posts: 3833
Loc: cloudy, foggy, humid NC, US
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Quote:
I stopped using lenses after I burned up a Plossl projecting the sun.
What did it do to the eyepiece? How do you burn up glass and metal? Did it cause the elements to come unglued? Did it burn the rubber or what?
Thanks,
Mike
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18" Starsplitter II f/4.5
8" Hardin Dob f/6
C5 workhorse mini SCT f/10 or f/6.3
70mm TV Ranger dual purpose birding/astro
77mm Leica Televid APO
16x70 Fujinons on UA Deluxe Mt.
12x50 Nikon SE
8x30 Nikon E2s
and many others
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Cerberus
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 10/16/04
Posts: 2689
Loc: Newton, KS 67114
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the metal retaining ring melted... the glass fogged up a bit on one edge, but it still works, I cant see ant visible difference unless I turn it around and look up the barrel! 
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matt
Vendor (Scopemania)
Reged: 07/28/03
Posts: 10022
Loc: Chaville, France
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What kind of refractor do you use?
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Matt
CI700 mount with various scopes on top.
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Erix
Toad Lily
Reged: 12/25/04
Posts: 20455
Loc: Ohio, USA
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Quote:
I suggest you find a 3X barlow, thats what I use for projection. I stopped using lenses after I burned up a Plossl projecting the sun.
What kind of a solar filter was it? Was it the kind that fits over the end of the scope or on the eyepiece?
Do you think it was a defect in the filter itself, or could it be using the filter too long at one viewing?
Thanks,
Erika
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Erika
10" LX200 Classic, ETX70-AT, DS Maxscope 60mm, 12" Truss Dob, Orion ED80, WO Binoviewers, 10x50's and 7x50's Binoculars, Rebel XT 350
Having Fun in the Sun!
More solar fun: 2007 July - tracking NOAA10963
Support bacteria. It's the only culture some people have.
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Erix
Toad Lily
Reged: 12/25/04
Posts: 20455
Loc: Ohio, USA
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Quote:
...check out this link for tips and safety measures:
http://www.spaceweather.com/sunspots/doityourself.html
Stacy
Stacy, thanks for URL. Our solar filter is on the way, for the objective end of the telescope. This link really answered alot of questions I had!
Erika
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Erika
10" LX200 Classic, ETX70-AT, DS Maxscope 60mm, 12" Truss Dob, Orion ED80, WO Binoviewers, 10x50's and 7x50's Binoculars, Rebel XT 350
Having Fun in the Sun!
More solar fun: 2007 July - tracking NOAA10963
Support bacteria. It's the only culture some people have.
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Chris Graham
mmmm...Haggis
Reged: 04/01/04
Posts: 4869
Loc: Stirling, Scotland
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Never use a solar filter at the eye piece.
It could crack and blind the viewer.
Just a quick warning,
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-Skywatcher 8" Reflector on HEQ5 with Skyscan
-Orion ED80 Refractor
-70mm Guidescope/grab and go scope
-Canon EOS 350D
-Toucam Pro 2
Astronomy & Veggies
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lighttrap
Reged: 02/06/04
Posts: 3833
Loc: cloudy, foggy, humid NC, US
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Quote:
Never use a solar filter at the eye piece.
It could crack and blind the viewer.
Let me say that again, just in case anybody missed it.
Never use a solar filter at the eye piece.
It could crack and blind the viewer.
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18" Starsplitter II f/4.5
8" Hardin Dob f/6
C5 workhorse mini SCT f/10 or f/6.3
70mm TV Ranger dual purpose birding/astro
77mm Leica Televid APO
16x70 Fujinons on UA Deluxe Mt.
12x50 Nikon SE
8x30 Nikon E2s
and many others
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kiwisailor
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 01/07/04
Posts: 1110
Loc: Lyttelton, New Zealand
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Peter, the Baader solar film is an inexpensive way to observe and image sunspots, you can buy a various solar filters if you prefer.
Steve
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Don't wait until tomorrow, start procrastinating today!
Sky-Watcher 8" F5 Newt
Mmmm Moonlite CR2
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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I did it today, projected the image of the sun onto a paper screen, following advice given in the links, it was really very easy, and I didn´t set fire to anything. There were four sunspots visible.
This is in preparation for a solar eclipse which will be visible from Spain in October.
Thanks all for your contributions.
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Cerberus
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 10/16/04
Posts: 2689
Loc: Newton, KS 67114
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I wasn't using a filter, I was projecting onto a piece of paper.
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