Solar observing through a plant pot?

[nephilim]

Hopefully I'll have caught the attention of someone who can give a bit of advice? Having found out (Thanks to the forum) the purpose of the small capped hole on my scopes dust cap ( to attach solar film) I'v bought some Baader solar film and I'm wondering which method of attatching it would be best. A) tape it underneath the small hole & obsrve through that OR, put it over the full aperture of my scope (5.1" Sky-watcher ) using a plant pot as a make shift sleeve (obviously with the base cut out . What difference would the quality be between the 2? Thanks for reading!

[JamesF]

I have used full aperture filters on my 127 Mak and ST120 and that works fine. I'd be tempted to go for the full aperture with yours.

James

[The Sailor]

I use both, just depends on the seeing conditions, for attaching to the dustcap I use doublesided tape on the inside.

Jim

[nephilim]

Thanks James, from doing a bit of research that's what I was thinking too, just needed someone with more experience to say the same. Cheers!

[stonemonkeylives]

To my knowledge it would have very little if any affect on observing Sun either way, it just depends if you want use the full aperture of your scope. If you make a full aperture filter using a plant pot (there are loads of guides kicking about online) you won't really need to use the scopes cap. On the other hand if you can't be bothered to make the full filter then just stick some filter inside you cap, it goes without saying that either way you choose, make sure that the filter is held in place securely and has no way of slipping off.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2

[nephilim]

I use both, just depends on the seeing conditions, for attaching to the dustcap I use doublesided tape on the inside.

Jim

Ah, thats a good idea! with what I'll have left over I'll be able to do both. Thanku.

[JamesF]

If you have enough for both, go for it.

The reason I suggest going for the full aperture is that resolution is (partly) a function of aperture and I read somewhere recently that once you get over 120mm or so of aperture you stand a chance of getting granulation detail.

James

[Uplooker]

I used a plastic plant pot, with the bottom cut out to make a full aperture solar filter for my Sw 150P. Works really well. Go for it!

Ian

[RikM]

I took the high-tech approach to fitting solar film to my ST80 On a good day I can see surface granulation even with 50mm of aperture. I normally also use a wrap of masking tape to secure the dust cap to the tube

[jimmyjamjoejoe]

Haha and i thought i was being innovative and original by making mine out of a plantpot... Great minds and all that...

[Matt Scunthorpe]

Id go for full apperture too on yours. On mine (200p) i use the dust cap hole, solely because one sheet of A4 was a tight fit over 8inches, and didnt leave any spare incase i messed up (which i did ). Now i have leftovers incase i need to remake one, (if i can remember where i put it LOL)

[LukeSkywatcher]

I want to make a dust cap filter for my 70mm refrac, but i cant justify the cost of a whole sheet of filter when all i need is about 1"sq.