Solar Observing

Hi all, I've never done any solar observing before and I would like to know
if there is a relatively inexpensive way of converting my 5" Newtonian
reflector to allow safe viewing.
Many thanks
Rob

Originally Posted by Robbie Mayhem

Hi all, I've never done any solar observing before and I would like to know
if there is a relatively inexpensive way of converting my 5" Newtonian
reflector to allow safe viewing.
Many thanks
Rob

Get an A4 sheet of Baader solar filter material [aluminised Mylar] for ~£14 from Telescope House or other dealer. Make a tight fitting cell from card for the Baader filter to fit over the end of the scope. Check [without an eyepiece] there are no light leaks or pinholes in or around the filter before inserting eyepiece. Cap the finder - use its shadow to aim scope at sun.

You don't necessarily need to the full 5" scope aperture [seeing is frequently poor in daytime] and could make a small off-axis Baader filtered aperture that's clear of the secondary obstruction - I've used an oval mask [long axis parallel to tube wall] in the past to increase the effective aperture slightly. Good luck and safe viewing. Solar pics via URL below.

Nytecam
www.astroman.fsnet.co.uk

"nytecam" wrote in message
...

Robbie Mayhem Wrote:
Hi all, I've never done any solar observing before and I would like to
know
if there is a relatively inexpensive way of converting my 5" Newtonian
reflector to allow safe viewing.
Many thanks
Rob

Get an A4 sheet of Baader solar filter material [aluminised Mylar] for
~£14 from Telescope House or other dealer. Make a tight fitting cell
from card for the Baader filter to fit over the end of the scope.
Check [without an eyepiece] there are no light leaks or pinholes in or
around the filter before inserting eyepiece. Cap the finder - use its
shadow to aim scope at sun.

You don't necessarily need to the full 5" scope aperture [seeing is
frequently poor in daytime] and could make a small off-axis Baader
filtered aperture that's clear of the secondary obstruction - I've used
an oval mask [long axis parallel to tube wall] in the past to increase
the effective aperture slightly. Good luck and safe viewing. Solar
pics via URL below.

Nytecam
www.astroman.fsnet.co.uk


--
nytecam

First up, thanks for the replies.
Baader solar film looks like the route for me as I don't have a couple of
grand free for a solarscope.
My newtonian aperture cover looks like it has a small removable lens cap
just off centre (must have been designed with solar observing in mind).
Is this solar film ok to cut?

Nice pics by the way!

Rob

On Fri, 24 Mar 2006 00:35:15 +0000, Robbie Mayhem wrote:


"nytecam" wrote in message
...

Robbie Mayhem Wrote:
Hi all, I've never done any solar observing before and I would like to
know
if there is a relatively inexpensive way of converting my 5" Newtonian
reflector to allow safe viewing.
Many thanks
Rob

Get an A4 sheet of Baader solar filter material [aluminised Mylar] for
~£14 from Telescope House or other dealer. Make a tight fitting cell
from card for the Baader filter to fit over the end of the scope.
Check [without an eyepiece] there are no light leaks or pinholes in or
around the filter before inserting eyepiece. Cap the finder - use its
shadow to aim scope at sun.

You don't necessarily need to the full 5" scope aperture [seeing is
frequently poor in daytime] and could make a small off-axis Baader
filtered aperture that's clear of the secondary obstruction - I've used
an oval mask [long axis parallel to tube wall] in the past to increase
the effective aperture slightly. Good luck and safe viewing. Solar
pics via URL below.

Nytecam
www.astroman.fsnet.co.uk


--
nytecam

First up, thanks for the replies.
Baader solar film looks like the route for me as I don't have a couple of
grand free for a solarscope.
My newtonian aperture cover looks like it has a small removable lens cap
just off centre (must have been designed with solar observing in mind).
Is this solar film ok to cut?

Nice pics by the way!

Rob

That is exactly what I have done. I made a small holder out of cardboard
to fit over the small aperture and capped it with the film.

Norman

Originally Posted by Robbie Mayhem

"nytecam" wrote in message
...

Robbie Mayhem Wrote:
Hi all, I've never done any solar observing before and I would like to
know
if there is a relatively inexpensive way of converting my 5" Newtonian
reflector to allow safe viewing.
Many thanks
Rob

Get an A4 sheet of Baader solar filter material [aluminised Mylar] for
~£14 from Telescope House or other dealer. Make a tight fitting cell
from card for the Baader filter to fit over the end of the scope.
Check [without an eyepiece] there are no light leaks or pinholes in or
around the filter before inserting eyepiece. Cap the finder - use its
shadow to aim scope at sun.

You don't necessarily need to the full 5" scope aperture [seeing is
frequently poor in daytime] and could make a small off-axis Baader
filtered aperture that's clear of the secondary obstruction - I've used
an oval mask [long axis parallel to tube wall] in the past to increase
the effective aperture slightly. Good luck and safe viewing. Solar
pics via URL below.

Nytecam
www.astroman.fsnet.co.uk


--
nytecam

First up, thanks for the replies.
Baader solar film looks like the route for me as I don't have a couple of
grand free for a solarscope.
My newtonian aperture cover looks like it has a small removable lens cap
just off centre (must have been designed with solar observing in mind).
Is this solar film ok to cut?

Nice pics by the way!

Rob

Yes - with sharp scissors and easiest if in squares to cover the aperture then sellotape the edges to the back [protected side] of mask hole. Baader material need not be dead flat in use - a few wrinkles are ok but not creases.

Nytecam