Sun Spot Viewing

[Beeford Mick]

Hi can anyone give me advice on what eyepiece or equipment I would need to safely view the sun. Thanks.

[E621Keith]

You will need full aperture solar filter for viewing the sun. The cheapest option is DIY one from Baader film

http://www.firstlightoptics.com/solar-filters/baader-astrosolar-safety-film-nd-50.html

or if you don't like DIY, you can buy a mounted one for your scope

http://www.firstlightoptics.com/solar-filters/astrozap-baader-solar-filter.html

or if you don't like plastic film, you can get glass one

http://www.scsastro.co.uk/catalogue/orion-full-aperture-glass-solar-filters.htm

[Moonshane]

you do need to cover the full aperture butif you have a cap with a small off centre hole then this can be used with the film covering it.

you'd still need a full sheet though of course and a method to make absolutely sure that the cap cannot be dislodged while observing.

other than this you just use normal eyepieces. make sure your finders are capped /covered as it's easy to burn a hole in your ear!

[cantharis]

Or if you want the full monty - being able to see prominences, flares and surface detail - treat yourself to a hydrogen alpha solar telescope. Great thing about solar viewing - doesn´t matter a damn how much light pollution you have at night.

[Mav359]

Remember to cover you finder/guider scopes aswell, you dont want to damage them. i bought my solar filter for my scope but i also bought the DIY filter paper and made solar filters for my Telrad & Finder scoper as well to protect them.