Wow Don’t Ever Do This 😳

[Frankskywatcher]

Did anyone else have those awful EP sun filters that came with the unbiquitous department store 70mm back when? Had one but never used it.

Without accurate tracking that scope would have produced smoke too. I once tried projecting an image of the sun on a white board using a 4.5" supermarket Newt with a plastic eyepiece. I aimed the scope at the sun by looking at the shadow of tne scope on the ground. It projected successfully but as soon as the aim was off, the scope started smoking. That must have been the field stop of the eyepiece once the image of the sun wandered out of the center and on to the field stop. It was a fun thing to try but don't do this with anything worth more than you care to lose. Or better, don't do it. The Newt still works though.

Pointing a scope at the sun should not be done in public IMHO. Bystanders (kids) who watch it from a distance not noticing the filter may try it at home thinking it's okay. Or a prankster may pull the filter off, who knows. It should never be done with collapsible Dobs or truss Dobs without a shroud. I recall reading about a structure set on fire by an unshrouded truss Dob parked next to it but can't find a link right now.

Enjoyed reading your comments because they are all super valid points especially about people thinking it’s all right because they saw a public demonstration of looking at the sun. Marshall had posted a link to the article about that video you’re talking about where the wind took the cover off and also want to orientating it towards the sun, and it blew up and caught the house on fire on the deck. That’s crazy.!

[Chich]

That video nailed it and that’s exactly why I am too timid into afraid to even try to look at the sun from my own scope. I don’t trust any kind of a filter. How ever if I knew of someone who had a scope that they had solely dedicated, no pun, intended for looking at solar, flares, etc. etc. I might consider it on if that person how to use that scope more than once without any problem to me it’s just too risky!

If you get a chance at a club outing and someone has a solar scope it is quite a view. I have 2 hydrogen alpha scopes which are designed for solar. I also have a white light filter for my SE8, not as much shown as the Ha scopes but worth a look.

https://skyandtelescope.org/observing/g ... 321050923/

Just remembered that when we got the grandkids a small table top scope for looking at the moon. I wrote in big letters on the instruction manual and the scope "DO NOT LOOK AT THE SUN!" and explained why it is a bad idea.

[Frankskywatcher]

That video nailed it and that’s exactly why I am too timid into afraid to even try to look at the sun from my own scope. I don’t trust any kind of a filter. How ever if I knew of someone who had a scope that they had solely dedicated, no pun, intended for looking at solar, flares, etc. etc. I might consider it on if that person how to use that scope more than once without any problem to me it’s just too risky!

If you get a chance at a club outing and someone has a solar scope it is quite a view. I have 2 hydrogen alpha scopes which are designed for solar. I also have a white light filter for my SE8, not as much shown as the Ha scopes but worth a look.

https://skyandtelescope.org/observing/g ... 321050923/

Just remembered that when we got the grandkids a small table top scope for looking at the moon. I wrote in big letters on the instruction manual and the scope "DO NOT LOOK AT THE SUN!" and explained why it is a bad idea.

WOW Thank you so much for that link the article it’s lengthy but believe me I’m going to read it !
I’m paranoid about looking at the sun and just had double cataract eye Surgery but all that being said, I absolutely love looking at photos of the sun close-up, and even videos of a flare up or prominence. I think I believe it’s called. I have a ham radio or amateur radio license as it’s called since the 1980s so even the first one always activity in relations to radio wave propagation!
Thanks for the article it looks fascinating !

[Solsearcher]

That video nailed it and that’s exactly why I am too timid into afraid to even try to look at the sun from my own scope. I don’t trust any kind of a filter. How ever if I knew of someone who had a scope that they had solely dedicated, no pun, intended for looking at solar, flares, etc. etc. I might consider it on if that person how to use that scope more than once without any problem to me it’s just too risky!

If you get a chance at a club outing and someone has a solar scope it is quite a view. I have 2 hydrogen alpha scopes which are designed for solar. I also have a white light filter for my SE8, not as much shown as the Ha scopes but worth a look.

https://skyandtelescope.org/observing/g ... 321050923/

Just remembered that when we got the grandkids a small table top scope for looking at the moon. I wrote in big letters on the instruction manual and the scope "DO NOT LOOK AT THE SUN!" and explained why it is a bad idea.

Thank you Chich for pointing out that solar viewing can be done safely . A properly equipped solar scope could never start a fire .

[messier 111]

here is what I use to watch the sun safely,

one fact to note is very important,
the finder is covered.

[chris_g]

one fact to note is very important,
the finder is covered.

Now imagine it weren't covered and it was a straight through instead of a 90, like my 60mn multipurpose. And you took a look through the main scope which is safe.

I can imagine some knucklehead doing that. Darwin award!