Solar Filter Advice

Please would someone be able to give me some advice on Solar Filters. I have
a Celestron Nexstar 5i telescope and currently use a Celestron Astro filter
(Plastic mount with foil material). I used this to photograph the transit of
Venus yesterday. The images were basically showed a whitish disc, sunspots
visible but little other detail. My query is this, are there other types of
filter available ? Ones which perhaps block the sun's centre to show the
outer rim for example or will show greater surface detail / features.
Material wise is glass or other more sturdier material available. Any web
site info appreciated....

Many Thanks

Richard
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Richard Griffith
E-mail

What's your budget? The orange pics you saw yesterday, showing prominences,
spots, etc. were taken through hydrogen alpha (Ha) filters. They cost
hundreds or thousands. A whitish disc was good enough for the BBC. You see
the more prominent spots.
Richard Griffith wrote in message
...
Please would someone be able to give me some advice on Solar Filters. I
have
a Celestron Nexstar 5i telescope and currently use a Celestron Astro
filter
(Plastic mount with foil material). I used this to photograph the transit
of
Venus yesterday. The images were basically showed a whitish disc, sunspots
visible but little other detail. My query is this, are there other types
of
filter available ? Ones which perhaps block the sun's centre to show the
outer rim for example or will show greater surface detail / features.
Material wise is glass or other more sturdier material available. Any web
site info appreciated....

Many Thanks

Richard
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Richard Griffith
E-mail

"mark Dunn" wrote in message
...
What's your budget? The orange pics you saw yesterday, showing
prominences,
spots, etc. were taken through hydrogen alpha (Ha) filters. They cost
hundreds or thousands. A whitish disc was good enough for the BBC. You see
the more prominent spots.

Yeah, I looked up Ha filters yesterday online... closed the browser when I
saw the price tag...

In message hZHxc.246$tY1.126@newsfe2-win, James
writes

"mark Dunn" wrote in message
...
What's your budget? The orange pics you saw yesterday, showing
prominences,
spots, etc. were taken through hydrogen alpha (Ha) filters. They cost
hundreds or thousands. A whitish disc was good enough for the BBC. You see
the more prominent spots.

Yeah, I looked up Ha filters yesterday online... closed the browser when I
saw the price tag...

One thing to remember is that colour digital cameras do not like
photographing in H-alpha light. They tend to over expose and lose
contrast during the JPEG conversion. White light images are better
behaved.

Regards,
--
Martin Brown

In message hZHxc.246$tY1.126@newsfe2-win, James
writes

"mark Dunn" wrote in message
...
What's your budget? The orange pics you saw yesterday, showing
prominences,
spots, etc. were taken through hydrogen alpha (Ha) filters. They cost
hundreds or thousands. A whitish disc was good enough for the BBC. You see
the more prominent spots.

Yeah, I looked up Ha filters yesterday online... closed the browser when I
saw the price tag...


But the interesting thing is that they are now starting at about $500. I
wonder what they will cost in eight years time.
--
Remove spam and invalid from address to reply.

"Jonathan Silverlight" wrote
in message ...
Yeah, I looked up Ha filters yesterday online... closed the browser when
I
saw the price tag...


But the interesting thing is that they are now starting at about $500. I
wonder what they will cost in eight years time.
True - look at the price of... for example... plasma screens now. Down from
12000 when new to 2000 or so.