16 replies to this topic

[astroclint]

Hello I have a Celestron 5se with a solar filter how do I locate the sun?

[DouglasPaul]

Hello I have a Celestron 5se with a solar filter how do I locate the sun?

It's probably too late to order a solar finder scope, maybe. Here is a video for ideas on making your own.

https://www.youtube....q5ATHFcaw&t=33s

[kfiscus]

Get an aluminum downspout bracket.  Mine from Home Depot cost $1.40.

I got this idea from a popular astrophotographer/YouTuber.  Mine works well.

[astroclint]

Thank You do you use rubberbands or tape to put it on and how do you install it to be straight

Get an aluminum downspout bracket.  Mine from Home Depot cost $1.40.

I got this idea from a popular astrophotographer/YouTuber.  Mine works well.

[quantumgiggles]

Roughly point the telescope in the general direction of the Sun. Observe the shadow of the telescope tube. Make adjustments to minimize the size of the circular shadow. Check the eyepiece. Rinse and repeat until you get the Sun.

[dcaponeii]

Roughly point the telescope in the general direction of the Sun. Observe the shadow of the telescope tube. Make adjustments to minimize the size of the circular shadow. Check the eyepiece. Rinse and repeat until you get the Sun.

Ditto.  Works EVERY time.  Minimize the shadow of the finder on the wall (or use a white sheet of paper on a clipboard) and you're there.  While you're at it you can project the image from your finder on the paper and have an easy means for folks to watch the shadow progress.  Just DO NOT LOOK THROUGH THE FINDER!!!

[Raginar]

Shadow trick works really well. When it’s a circle on the ground you’ve got it. And a nice wide field eye piece 😂

[astroclint]

Ditto.  Works EVERY time.  Minimize the shadow of the finder on the wall (or use a white sheet of paper on a clipboard) and you're there.  While you're at it you can project the image from your finder on the paper and have an easy means for folks to watch the shadow progress.  Just DO NOT LOOK THROUGH THE FINDER!!!

Thank's but my finder is a red dot one it has no lenses. 

[bookemdano]

The shadow method works great or as mentioned the downspout bracket if you feel like making a run to Home Depot. You can attach (tape or rubber band) it anywhere on your telescope so long as it is flat against the tube and reasonably straight. Even if it's off a little bit, you will still be in the right ballpark so you can hunt a little bit from there. Hope you have a wide-field eyepiece for your scope!

 

See this photo from a member here. He attached to his camera but same principle applies. https://www.cloudyni...t-solar-finder/

Edited by bookemdano, 06 April 2024 - 03:11 PM.

[BOSS3128]

I do not want to state the obvious, but do not use the red dot finder either.  Kfiscus's option is the easiest at this point.  I use a stubby pringles can for mine.  You do not need the pvc standoffs, it just helps to align with the scope better.  You do need to be able to find the center of a circle to put the hole in the bottom.  The top usually has a casting mark for the center.  You do not need to cut the side out like I did.  This just gives the option of viewing from the side or back.

 

Once you attach whatever finder to the scope, all you have to do is find the sun once and remember where it is in relation to the center of the lid, as it may not be perfectly centered.

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[astroclint]

The shadow method works great or as mentioned the downspout bracket if you feel like making a run to Home Depot. You can attach (tape or rubber band) it anywhere on your telescope so long as it is flat against the tube and reasonably straight. Even if it's off a little bit, you will still be in the right ballpark so you can hunt a little bit from there. Hope you have a wide-field eyepiece for your scope!

 

See this photo from a member here. He attached to his camera but same principle applies. https://www.cloudyni...t-solar-finder/

Thank you I got downspout bracket from home depot will be using that.

[MTibb]

I just tried holding my eclipse glasses in front of my red "dot" finder (Starpointer Pro, so actually a target) with my left hand. It actually worked quite well - finder on full illumination, and my hand blocked the brilliance of the Sun while I swept towards it. Once the filtered Sun appeared in the Starpointer "window", it was easy to align it with the red target.

[dcaponeii]

Thank's but my finder is a red dot one it has no lenses.

That’s a shame but it will still cast a shadow

[astroclint]

I just tried holding my eclipse glasses in front of my red "dot" finder (Starpointer Pro, so actually a target) with my left hand. It actually worked quite well - finder on full illumination, and my hand blocked the brilliance of the Sun while I swept towards it. Once the filtered Sun appeared in the Starpointer "window", it was easy to align it with the red target.

The problem I see doing that is you will be looking at the sun with the right eye while the left is looking at the starpointer.

[quantumgiggles]

Really no reason to fuss with all this guys. The shadow method is pretty fool proof lol

[astroclint]

Thank's everyone I found the sun with the downspout bracket.

[Raginar]

Nice 🤗