Solar Filters

ChaosKnight · Post by **ChaosKnight** » Wed Mar 17, 2004 9:47 am

Anyone has any cheap, good solar filters to recommend? For 4" refractor. Best if it's one of those with a mounting cell to attach to the telescope.....

Post by nF » Wed Mar 17, 2004 10:25 am

You can try Baader's Astro Solar Filters, they are available in singapore. I believe you can contact Remus regarding this as he carries this product. More information on this filter at http://www.star-matrix.com/prices/filters_baader_so.htm

Post by **weixing** » Wed Mar 17, 2004 10:41 am

Hi,
Baader's Astro Solar Filters is one of the lowest price Solar Filters avaiable, but you must handle it carefully. Since it is just a piece of film, you can quite easily "pop" a hole or scratch it without notice it. So check for "holes" or scratches everytime before you use it.

Have a nice day.

rlow · Post by **rlow** » Wed Mar 17, 2004 1:58 pm

If you are getting the Baader Astro Solar Filter which is good and relatively inexpensive, you have to make your own mounting cell, which is quite easy, but make sure it is very secure on the scope because you don't want it to accidentally come off the scope while someone is observing thru it.

ChaosKnight · Post by **ChaosKnight** » Wed Mar 17, 2004 4:46 pm

Yeah i heard about the Baader ones. Supposed to be lots better than mylar. But i would prefer if there is a ready mounting cell......

Anyway, are any of the vendors planning on bringing in more of this stuff? In preparation for the June 8th transit of Venus.

Post by **rcj** » Fri Apr 09, 2004 3:48 pm

Hi ChaosKnight,
Yes, the Baader Astro Solar filters are available. An 'A4' sheet costs SGD$50. Immediate stock. You can send your enquiries/orders to sales@star-matrix.com. Stay tuned for Venus Transit Projects soon!
rcj

kingkong · Post by **kingkong** » Thu May 13, 2004 5:10 pm

i want to buy the baader astrosolar for the venus transit.
sent an email to sales@star-matrix but no reply yet :|
can anyone please help?

this is how i'm planning to mount it:
the 102 cap has a second 60mm opening...
i'll stick the baader astrosolar sheet inside the cap and just use the smaller opening for observing the sun. no chance of it being blown off.
shouldn't be any problem right? since the sun is so bright. aperture is not an issue. no?
next thing is how to aim....?
can use a piece of cardboard behind the finder scope. stand in front of the finder scope with back to the sun. and use the projection on the paper to aim.
probably have to close off or remove the finder scope when observing through the eyepiece. otherwise may get zapped.

Post by **weixing** » Thu May 13, 2004 5:26 pm

Hi,
Make sure you stick it securely and make sure to check that the solar film got no holes before you use it. Also, you don't need to use the finder scope to aim at the sun. Just aim the scope at the general direction of the sun and use the lowest power eyepiece that you have... the 25mm eyepiece that come with the scope should give you 20x and around 2.5 degree field of view... you should be able to locate the sun quite easily.

Have a nice day.

kingkong · Post by **kingkong** » Thu May 13, 2004 5:51 pm

weixing wrote:Hi,
Make sure you stick it securely and make sure to check that the solar film got no holes before you use it.

what's the safest/best way to check for holes?
you don't want to find out with your eyes that there's a hole right?
perhaps without the eyepiece - ray not focused?
or project it on to something with/without the eyepiece?

Post by **weixing** » Thu May 13, 2004 6:03 pm

Hi,
Before you mount on your telescope, check the filter against the sun.. hold the filter in front of the sun at one arm length. If there are holes, you should see a pin point of bright light on the filter.

Have a nice day.