12 replies to this topic

[Overtime]

With the sunny days and cloudy nights as me thinking I might check out our sun BUT as usual I have little or no information on the subject so perhaps someone could steer me in the right direction.

 

I have 3 scopes ATM the only one I have a solar filter for is the seestar s50. Which is the best option ( all 3 listed in my signature)

Is there a better time of day to view? 

Is there a difference between viewing and imaging equipment? 

Should I get a filter for the eyepiece or the end of the scope?

I have 4 planetary cameras. Might they work for imaging? ( also listed in my signature )

 

I might not start this right away. I will probably order online so it may take some time.

[havasman]

https://astrosolar.com/en/

 

That's the Baader Astrosolar website. Their Astrosolar white light solar film is the best AND cheapest (rare in the hobby) white light aperture film. The website is very informative and should be read cover-to-cover by anyone starting out in solar observing. Included is how you can make your own filter holder for the aperture of your SCT and get into white light for $30 or so. And they make inexpensive, fully configured film and holder systems that will fit your scope and are also described on the website. I use a pair of them on my binoculars and they work well and are secure. That's the scope I would use. You can start observing the very active sunspots traversing our local star for only a little $ and should enjoy it a lot.

 

Eyepiece solar filters are dangerous, unreliable, no longer made by ANY reputable source and if encountered they should be shattered and thrown out.

 

Mind you keep your finder scope capped or also equipped with aperture filter. You will need a solar finder. The TV Sol Searcher is one of several good ones.

 

Jamey L. Jenkins' OBSERVING THE SUN A Pocket Field Guide is an excellent resource and easier to read than some others.

Edited by havasman, 20 June 2025 - 02:51 PM.

[gstrumol]

I'd like to recommend the AngelEyes solar finder:

 

 

Works perfectly, built like a tank, and is half the price of the TV finder.

[NuovaApe]

Welcome to the light side.

 

There's some good tips/info in the forum FAQ:

https://www.cloudyni...eads-and-links/

 

The best scope is the one you use most.

 

Baader AstroSolar film is the best in the world. Period.

You can buy better AstroSolar versions of the S50 Solar Filter for £25:

https://www.firstlig...-with-case.html

 

I have the AngelEyes solar finder (about £20). It works very well. Any solar finder is an absolute essential - it saves so much time and stress. If you have an observatory with a permanently mounted perfectly polar aligned scope then GOTO will find it. That's assuming the GOTO can take into account atmospheric refraction for the time of day (think straw in a glass and how it bends). Did you know just before sunset the sun has already gone below the horizon? Air refraction can cause "why doesn't my GOTO find the sun/planet" questions. A simple solar finder will help you find it. The clue is in the title.

 

Best time to view are mornings, before the sun has had chance to heat the air and make it wobble.

That doesn't stop me viewing until 6pm in the summer.

 

Solar "white light" works well with colour cams and mono cams.

Your planetary cameras will be fine.

 

Eyepiece "sun filters" should be illegal. Think magnifying glass + sun + setting things on fire, which we all do during our school days. A telescope is a huge magnifying glass. Putting all that focused heat through a $10 piece of black plastic will eventually cause it to rupture. And your eye with it. 1 green bottle hanging on the wall. And if 1 green bottle...

 

My recommendation would be to get a Baader version of the S50 filter and play with it.

If you get bored quickly then maybe solar isnt for you.

If you feel "I want more!" then AstroSolar on your 8" SCT will be a huge step, both in resolution and annoyance - the bigger the scope the more perfect the seeing needs to be.

 

I have, on average, poor seeing. But I still have Baader AstroSolar for my C9.25 which blows me away even when things are not great. To stare at the most dangerous thing in our solar system with complete safety is just a ton of fun.

 

Best, Ed.

 

 

[msabochi]

I definitely recommend Jamey L. Jenkins' OBSERVING THE SUN A Pocket Field Guide as suggested by havasman. I've read it three times in the past six months. It not only provides a lot of useful information, but also will whet your appetite for solar observation.

 

Mid to late morning is typically the best time to view. I've also seen recommendations for late afternoon. Seeing is generally worse during the day than at night.

 

For solar, monochrome cameras are typically recommended, as you'll be looking at look fairly narrow frequency ranges, even for white-light.

 

Since you already have a SeeStar with the solar filter, I think that's a great place to start. Some nice photos were posted today on this forum.

 

-Mike

[Overtime]

Eyepiece solar filters are dangerous, unreliable, no longer made by ANY reputable source and if encountered they should be shattered and thrown out.

 

 

Mind you keep your finder scope capped or also equipped with aperture filter. You will need a solar finder. The TV Sol Searcher is one of several good ones.

 

Jamey L. Jenkins' OBSERVING THE SUN A Pocket Field Guide is an excellent resource and easier to read than some others.

 

 

Explains why I didn't find them for sale. 

 

I didn't even think about the finderscope. Couldn't I just make a solar filter for it?

I was actually thinking I wouldn't need a finder. My 8 inch has go to. I am still learning to use it. Since I got it I haven't had many good nights to use it.

 

Another book to read! I'm still on the first book . I have reading issues. My books tend to get dust on them between chapters. Then there is my old joke " A book? What' s a book? " reply is " One of those things people read" My reply is read ? Oh I can't read. lol Yes it's a joke I can read despite a few issues. I made up that joke 20 years ago when I was in a chat session with about 50 people. Funny thing is some people actually thought I couldn't read, despite being in a typing chat environment.

[Overtime]

Welcome to the light side.

 

There's some good tips/info in the forum FAQ:

https://www.cloudyni...eads-and-links/

 

The best scope is the one you use most.

 

Baader AstroSolar film is the best in the world. Period.

You can buy better AstroSolar versions of the S50 Solar Filter for £25:

https://www.firstlig...-with-case.html

 

I have the AngelEyes solar finder (about £20). It works very well. Any solar finder is an absolute essential - it saves so much time and stress. If you have an observatory with a permanently mounted perfectly polar aligned scope then GOTO will find it. That's assuming the GOTO can take into account atmospheric refraction for the time of day (think straw in a glass and how it bends). Did you know just before sunset the sun has already gone below the horizon? Air refraction can cause "why doesn't my GOTO find the sun/planet" questions. A simple solar finder will help you find it. The clue is in the title.

 

Best time to view are mornings, before the sun has had chance to heat the air and make it wobble.

That doesn't stop me viewing until 6pm in the summer.

 

Solar "white light" works well with colour cams and mono cams.

Your planetary cameras will be fine.

 

My recommendation would be to get a Baader version of the S50 filter and play with it.

If you get bored quickly then maybe solar isnt for you.

If you feel "I want more!" then AstroSolar on your 8" SCT will be a huge step, both in resolution and annoyance - the bigger the scope the more perfect the seeing needs to be.

 

I have, on average, poor seeing. But I still have Baader AstroSolar for my C9.25 which blows me away even when things are not great. To stare at the most dangerous thing in our solar system with complete safety is just a ton of fun.

 

Best, Ed.

My most used scope lately is the seestar s50. I have a solar filter for it and it has go to  so maybe I will try that first.

Yes I do get bored fast so the ss might be a good idea since it is so easy to set up.

 

I will probably get a filter for the 8 inch If I have to maybe make an adaptor so it fits my other scope.

[NuovaApe]

I have "Observing the sun" - 2nd hand from ebay for £10

It's a useful book, but printed in 2013 and not (IMHO) worth the £30-£50 the few remaining books are going for.

 

The images in the book are small black and white, very soft, and the last chunk of the book is a solar ephemeris which ended 2016.

 

I've heard yellow glasses helps those of us with "reading difficulties". Not tried them.

 

You can put solar film over a regular finder scope.

Finderscopes have inherent magnification so tougher to locate the sun compared to a zero magnification solar finder.

 

Best, Ed.

[Overtime]

Finderscopes have inherent magnification so tougher to locate the sun compared to a zero magnification solar finder.

 

 

 

I did not know that. I guess I will have to get one. One I looked at earlier today is only $13.00

so it won't break the bank.

[Overtime]

I just ordered a  DLXY Angeleyes Solar Finder. It is going to cost about $17.00 after shipping I just have to wait to get it as I ordered it online.

[rigel123]

My most used scope lately is the seestar s50. I have a solar filter for it and it has go to  so maybe I will try that first.

Yes I do get bored fast so the ss might be a good idea since it is so easy to set up.

 

I will probably get a filter for the 8 inch If I have to maybe make an adaptor so it fits my other scope.

With the Seestar you don’t have to worry about using the GoTo.  When you set the Seestar up for solar simply set it up so when looking at its shadow you can see the space between the scope and the arm.  Then turn it on, connect to it, raise the arm and attach your solar filter.  Then select Solar System, select GoTo sun and when it tells you to level your Seestar just skip that step and skip the next step that pops up too.  Then use the joystick button to simply slew straight up until the disk comes into the field of view.  You can tell it is getting close when you see the background start to brighten. This all takes about 2 minutes.  Having to go through all the calibration steps for leveling, compass, etc is just unnecessary time spent when half the time the Seestar won’t find the sun anyway because it can’t plate solve during the day.  Once you have the sun in view you can click on the Center the Object and it will track it just fine without any calibration of level or compass.

[Overtime]

With the Seestar you don’t have to worry about using the GoTo.  When you set the Seestar up for solar simply set it up so when looking at its shadow you can see the space between the scope and the arm.  Then turn it on, connect to it, raise the arm and attach your solar filter.  Then select Solar System, select GoTo sun and when it tells you to level your Seestar just skip that step and skip the next step that pops up too.  Then use the joystick button to simply slew straight up until the disk comes into the field of view.  You can tell it is getting close when you see the background start to brighten. This all takes about 2 minutes.  Having to go through all the calibration steps for leveling, compass, etc is just unnecessary time spent when half the time the Seestar won’t find the sun anyway because it can’t plate solve during the day.  Once you have the sun in view you can click on the Center the Object and it will track it just fine without any calibration of level or compass.

That answers another question. lol . I wondered why the go to wasn't finding the sun all the time. I figured it was me. I guess not.  

[Overtime]

Today being another sunny day and not knowing what to expect tonight I did a viewing using the Seestar. I did not view at dawn It was around 11:45 am, Even zoomed in I didn't get the results I had hoped and the screen of my tablet was having a obvious issue with half of the screen not being correct and streaked with colors ( after looking at the picture in my viewer they seemed ok). I was hoping for more detail, something my other scopes will give me at least I hope they will. Here is 1 of the photos I took at 1x.

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