12 replies to this topic

[ant888nsmb2]

Saw this video on YouTube, poor kid got burned by his telescope during the eclipse.

https://youtu.be/s21...T9arlhZk8-1bJBd

[JimB1]

Ouch, looks like he was trying to use the Newtonian to project onto a piece of paper through the eyepiece but the primary reflected through the tube not to the secondary. Definitely an unexpected issue…

Hope he’s OK

-Jim

[mikemarotta]

You can see the circle of light on his cheek before it hits his eye. So, was the telescope not collimated? Why did the image not go to the eyepiece?

 

Our local club in Kyle, Texas, meets at the city library on Saturday afternoons. We have done a lot of solar viewing during this sunspot maximum.

 

Thanks!

Mike M.

[Cpk133]

You can see the circle of light on his cheek before it hits his eye. So, was the telescope not collimated? Why did the image not go to the eyepiece?

 

Our local club in Kyle, Texas, meets at the city library on Saturday afternoons. We have done a lot of solar viewing during this sunspot maximum.

 

Thanks!

Mike M.

It goes into the eyepiece when its actually pointed at the sun.  In this case, it was the equivalent of intense stray light.

[GoneGator95]

Using a reflector to do a projection seems like it is more dangerous than a refractor would be. Agree?

 

I got a solar filter for my 8" dob this go around (had not used it prior on an solar eclipse) and put a big note on the box "don't rush using this = don't go blind" as a reminder. I have inspected it every time I use it and use some painters tape to make sure it doesn't move (also fits tight). I left it on for totality... I did have unfiltered binoculars I used in middle of total (I had 4:09 minutes so plenty of time).

[RajG]

Poor kid. I hope he didn't lose his eye.

[Sebastian_Sajaroff]

Poor kid, let's hope he's OK.

Always be extra cautious with solar !

[nou]

I stepped through video and it seems like it didn't hit his eye so only hist cheek got burned.

[Diana N]

Always be extra cautious with solar !

That's the main reason I brought my Coronado PST to the eclipse.  No need to play with telescopic projection methods (as opposed to an easy pinhole camera setup), and no front filter that could be somehow be accidentally knocked off.  In addition to spectacular views, it's the safest of the various telescopic options.

[Cajundaddy]

Eesh, that was a very close call to permanently losing an eye.  Where were his parents??  I get the Willie’s thinking about something like this happening because he simply didn’t understand the risk.

[GoneGator95]

That's the main reason I brought my Coronado PST to the eclipse.  No need to play with telescopic projection methods (as opposed to an easy pinhole camera setup), and no front filter that could be somehow be accidentally knocked off.  In addition to spectacular views, it's the safest of the various telescopic options.

I was watching a review of the Coronado PST. It looks small and kinda entry level for the cost, maybe unless I can get on used? Would it be better just spend $2K on another Coronado up the line? Open to your thoughts.  

[Diana N]

I was watching a review of the Coronado PST. It looks small and kinda entry level for the cost, maybe unless I can get on used? Would it be better just spend $2K on another Coronado up the line? Open to your thoughts.  

It is entry-level, as is its competitor, the Lunt 40mm hydrogen alpha scope.  Some very old PSTs had a problem with the main lens rusting over, which makes the scope useless; more common, though is having an ITF filter inside the telescope rust over - it's a fixable problem, but you have to be comfortable doing some telescope surgery in order to remove the old, bad ITF filter and replace it with a good one from BelOptic or Maier Photonics to fix the issue.  Here's an old CN thread that discusses both the problem and the fix:  https://www.cloudyni...ion-pst-owners/  This is something you want to check if you are considering a used PST.

 

The Lunt 40mm hydrogen alpha scope also has an internal filter that can cloud up over time, but it's in the star diagonal and can be easily replaced using only a spanner wrench, and Lunt will sell you the proper replacement filter (it's just blue glass).  They also have a video on their website showing how to replace that filter.  Word of mouth is that Lunt is good about post-purchase servicing of their equipment, Meade/Coronado not so much, but I cannot personally vouch for that.

 

Neither scope new costs $2,000; more like $800 - and that is a big advantage for travel (especially international travel).  Both the PST and the Lunt 40mm, being small and lightweight, will fit inside a regular carryon and therefore you don't have to risk checking them, and they can both go on an inexpensive tripod (which you WILL probably have to check, unless the tripod is REALLY small).  I'd rather take the inexpensive setup with me and leave the multi-thousand dollar setup safe at home!  I like the PST + cheap tripod for outreach as well, for the same reason.  Ultimately it comes down to how much solar observing you want to do regularly, and how comfortable you are traveling with extremely expensive gear (especially to developing countries).

Edited by Diana N, 18 April 2024 - 04:38 PM.

[SporadicGazer]

 ...  The Lunt 40mm hydrogen alpha scope ....

Based on reputation, I would go Lunt for a new scope these days. At least if you can find one available in your time frame. 

 

On the used market,  condition and your ability to evaluate it will be most important. There is expected to be an increase in used solar equipment available after this eclipse and even more so as the solar maximum passes next year or so. Even used I'd favor Lunt because of their customer service rep. (You won't need to look hard to find complaints about Lunt,  but the ones I've seen have mostly been about leadtimes and forecasting problems. They're a small company and eclipse and solar max demand has swamped them. That should start getting better now.)