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a shield to block sun glare from the eyepiece?

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#1 genelew

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Posted 29 March 2017 - 05:10 PM

I have just started observing with my new Lunt solar scope and I find that the glare of the sun detracts from my view into the eyepiece. I wear a baseball cap and the bill does a little to shield from the sun, but not enough. What do members do to prevent that? I think I may have seen a photo somewhere of a scope with some kind of shield (cardboard?) to block the sun from the area of the ep. Any suggestions?

Gene



#2 jimr2

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Posted 29 March 2017 - 05:18 PM

Yeah, if you're looking straight thru the scope--w/ no star diagonal in place--then yes, just cut out a piece of thin cardboard w/ a hole the dia. of your scope's tube in it, and slip it over the tube from one end of the scope or the other to block the glare from the sun. Make it as large as you need to block the glare.



#3 saguaro

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Posted 29 March 2017 - 05:19 PM

I use a hood like this. Works great.

http://r-sky.org/en/.../observing-hood



#4 cptbobrfh

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Posted 29 March 2017 - 05:29 PM

I also use the hood from r-sky with solar observing and it does work nicely.

Best,

Bob



#5 genelew

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Posted 29 March 2017 - 05:48 PM

Does that hood get kind of hot in the summer?



#6 Paul Hyndman

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Posted 29 March 2017 - 06:20 PM

You can fashion an inexpensive but effective sun shield from foam board, available in craft stores for a couple of dollars. I prefer a white front and black backside.

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#7 saguaro

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Posted 29 March 2017 - 06:21 PM

Does that hood get kind of hot in the summer?

I've not found it to be uncomfortable in the summer. It's made of breathable cotton. I find it indispensable for solar observing. I'm referring of course to the white solar observing hood, not the black one.



#8 PJ Anway

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Posted 29 March 2017 - 06:28 PM

I use a couple of different "shields". Both keep glare off the eyepiece well, while keeping things relatively cool.sweaty.gif

 

(1)When there is no wind, I use poster board like Paul. You slip it onto the refractor and observe in the shade.

 

Sun shield.jpg

 

 

 

(2) When it is windy, I use a pair of cutting glasses (with the "glass removed). Works great to shield the view in my binoviewers.

 

Goggles2.jpg



#9 cptbobrfh

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Posted 29 March 2017 - 06:41 PM

 

Does that hood get kind of hot in the summer?

I've not found it to be uncomfortable in the summer. It's made of breathable cotton. I find it indispensable for solar observing. I'm referring of course to the white solar observing hood, not the black one.

 

It is very comfortable.Ditto on what saguaro said!



#10 genelew

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Posted 29 March 2017 - 08:25 PM

For those who use the foam board, how do you use the sun finder? Find and lock on the sun first and then mount the shield?



#11 PJ Anway

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Posted 30 March 2017 - 04:58 AM

For those who use the foam board, how do you use the sun finder? Find and lock on the sun first and then mount the shield?

As you said, you could first locate the sun and then put the foam board on. This works well, especially if using a tracking mount.

 

With an alt-az (non-tracking) mount, I've also done it by using a low power "finder" eyepiece and aligning the shadow. By "aligning the shadow", I mean moving the scope until the foam board casts a fullest shadow on the ground. Or, if you look at Paul's first picture, you would move the scope until the shadow cast the end of the scope (in this case by his filter) on the foam board would disappear. With practice you figure out your own technique and it becomes easier.

 

Another way is to put a small hole in the foam board that lines up with your finder. I've done this before, but now I just align the shadow.

 

Also, the foam board comes in handy at public events. I labeled an image I took and then attached it to the back of the foam board. This way they can identify any features they are viewing.

 

H-alpha_1.jpg

 

Foam board.jpg



#12 Paul Hyndman

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Posted 30 March 2017 - 11:00 AM

Ditto what PJ says, for public events it is way cool. The only way to fly:

 

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#13 PJ Anway

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Posted 30 March 2017 - 12:31 PM

Ditto what PJ says, for public events it is way cool. The only way to fly:

Paul - that "public event" looks kind of NEAF-ish ?

________________________________________________________________________________

 

I am working on a new poster board for my side-by-side setup, combining a couple of images I took.

 

Sun_elements.jpg

 

Zeiss_TEC 3.jpg



#14 Paul Hyndman

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Posted 30 March 2017 - 08:46 PM

 

Ditto what PJ says, for public events it is way cool. The only way to fly:

Paul - that "public event" looks kind of NEAF-ish ?

________________________________________________________________________________

 

I am working on a new poster board for my side-by-side setup, combining a couple of images I took.

 

attachicon.gifSun_elements.jpg

 

attachicon.gifZeiss_TEC 3.jpg

 

Yep, the NEAF SSP is one of my favorite solar show-n-tells (Barlow Bob, got me hooked on solar way back when NEAF was held at a Holiday Inn and ... gasp!... there was not yet a Solar Star Party, just one lonely solar geezer providing Ha views to anyone who would dare risk addiction). Fast forward to our current SSPs where get to meet and schmooze with some of the many fellow solar geeks we've come to know online. It's every bit as much fun (or even more so) for those of us sharing our equipment as for the attendees .

 

I'll only be attending one day this year, but hopefully many Cloudy Night solarphiles will make their way into the courtyard to share the views.

 

BTW, the side by side poster board is a great idea for public events, PJ.




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