TheSkySearchers

I'm not sure this belongs here so feel free to move it...Today I made myself a solar filter and I had to try it out. I also just received the Tele Vue Sol-Searcher finder. I like the finder but I learned very quickly about shadows...I knew the Sun was close by the shadow I saw on the finder, which is something I'm sure you all already know. It was one of my "Hey, Stupid" moments...it made perfect sense to me AFTER I bought the finder...No matter, I still like the Sol-Searcher...anyway, I never thought the Sun would be an interesting target UNTIL today...Astronomy and the night sky always fascinated me but I never really had an interest in the Sun...I wanted to test out the filter I put together and, fortunately, the Sun was out. So I set up my SV 503 and had a look. It was amazing! Just being able to see the spots on the Sun was worth it. I have several cheap filters and I tried them just see what happened. It was nothing worth writing about. The only filter that I liked using for this was my Celestron Variable Polarizing filter. Maybe it's just me, but it seemed like I could see the sunspots better. I also kept seeing thing fly by the Sun, that was impressive until I realized it was just bugs flying past my scope...Anyway, I have a cheap set of eyepieces, Astromania, and the best view I got was with the 17mm and the 13mm...Anyway, like I said, if this doesn't belong here, feel free to move it to the appropriate place...

Hey Razz, nice report! And the perfect spot for it too

I get what you mean about the "shadows". I often just look at the shadow cast by my scope at the back, narrow it to the smallest possible shadow, and from there it's close.

What filter did you make; I'm assuming it's with the Baader solar film? A pic would be cool; I love homemade personally...

You picked a good time to try all this, Solar Cycle 25 is ramping up nicely. Good scope too! And today was a nice day for the sun and its spots, wish I had your weather!


Thanks for the report, and welcome to the world of our star! You'll be a solarhead yet

All the best,

Thanks for the reply...I did use Baader 5.0 film....tried to put up pics but can't....I'll keep trying, tho...

Hi Razz. I always use the simple "center of shadow" method to align the telescope with a solar filter for white light viewing. You can then zero in with the telescope's slow motion controls to find the sun. And according to Raben Systems today, we now have AR 3113 to view.


Thanks for your report Razz and Ole' Sol has really been heating up this year.

Razz wrote: ↑Sat Oct 01, 2022 10:16 pm Thanks for the reply...I did use Baader 5.0 film....tried to put up pics but can't....I'll keep trying, tho...

If you need help, just ask on that... That's what we're here for Even shoot me a PM, it's all good!

Ok, I think I have this image posting thing figured out...Here is the filter I made. The film isn't as smooth as I wanted but it seems to work ok. I practiced laying the film on the template a few times with no issues but as soon as I put the double-sided tape down, it all went a little sideways...oh well...

Well done Bill! Seeing the sun spots for the first time is very exciting.

Bigzmey wrote: ↑Sat Oct 08, 2022 5:56 pm Well done Bill! Seeing the sun spots for the first time is very exciting.

I agree. Just when I figured I had enough astronomy books, along comes an interest in the Sun. Now I want a book for that...

Razz wrote: ↑Sat Oct 08, 2022 6:33 pm

Bigzmey wrote: ↑Sat Oct 08, 2022 5:56 pm Well done Bill! Seeing the sun spots for the first time is very exciting.

I agree. Just when I figured I had enough astronomy books, along comes an interest in the Sun. Now I want a book for that...

One can't have too many astronomy books. Same goes for scopes and EPs.

Now you tell me...Anyway, this is the book I think I'm going to get...Thefatkitty mentioned it in his latest solar pics thread....hope the link works...

https://solar-astronomy-book.com/