TheSkySearchers

Hello,

Apologies if this has been covered already. This is a super cheap DIY solar viewing setup.

Ingredients:

- 3gal bucket
- ultra flat black paint (for inside of bucket)
- dark silver or gray or black party balloon
- appropriately sized embroidery ring
- 1.5” umbrella holder with set knob or screw
- cheap plastic 45° 1.25” diagonal

Drill 1.5” hole in the center of the bucket, attach the umbrella holder. Paint the inside of the bucket, stretch the balloon over the bucket while securing with the embroidery ring. Attach 45° diagonal to your scope, slide the umbrella holder over the diagonal and tighten the set screw. Find the sun, focus and enjoy!

When focused, sun spots appear crisp and clear, and since it ‘projects’ onto the balloon, there is no bending over/yoga involved with viewing. It’s great for eclipses too! Although I’d bet this could work with most scopes (the balloon or optics never once got hot), the ONLY scope of mine I would ever point at the sun unfiltered is my inexpensive ST80.

Mike

very very ingenious, thx.

Very cool!
This is something like a solar funnel?

I use refractors from achro doublets to oil spaced triplet with a herschel wedge without issue.
The only telescope design you should not use is a refractor with a sub-aperture corrector. (corrector right in front of focuser drawtube)
You can use TV petzvals as well.