Solar Filter

[Kenza]

Hi! I want to observe the sun. Is the solar filter the only thing I need? And also, which one should I get?

My scope is the Equinox 120mm

[Qualia]

Ay, you can't go wrong buying Baader's solar film and making yourself your own solar filter. Other than that, you can get them pre-made which isn't always a bad thing: solar filter.

Other than that I've found 50x magnification a nice sweet spot for white light observing. A green filter (and I imagine even better) a Baader Continuum filter will bring out subtler detail and will make sunspots, faculae, and granulation more distinct with better contrast.

If you find yourself observing regularly, every sun shining day, then you can't go wrong with a Lunt Solar Wedge. They may seem pricey, but it should last you many, many years. I found that within a year my Baader film was punctuated with tiny pin holes (I took great care of it), so in my mind the Lunt Wedge offers a better degree of safety and I find that using the wedge as opposed to film is similar by analogy to using a stock 10mm eyepiece and then moving onto something like a Tele Vue.

[E621Keith]

Since you posted in the eyepiece section, I should point out, any solar filter you use must be front mounted full aperture filter. Rear mounted filter is extremely unsafe and should never be used. (Specialist solar wedges is the only exception but only in special cases)

Baader solar film is very well regarded but you need to make your own filter cell http://www.firstlightoptics.com/solar-filters/baader-astrosolar-safety-film-nd-50.html

Astrozap has ready made version if you don't like DIY http://www.firstlightoptics.com/solar-filters/astrozap-baader-solar-filter.html

A more durable alternative to Baader film is full aperture glass filter from Orion US and Thousand Oaks. I've only tried the Orion, the image isn't as good as Baader film http://www.telescopehouse.com/acatalog/Online_Catalogue_Solar_Filters_55.html

[Luke]

I've used Baader solar film on my ED100 (I got the AstroZap version):

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

If funds allow, I'd consider a Herschel wedge, because your Equinox 120 is a really cracking scope for it. I recently got the Baader Herschel wedge, and it's superb on my Equinox 120. I could not believe the level of detail when I viewed at high power. The wedge does give a sharper view than the film, but costs much more.

With my Herschel wedge, I had to get a few adapters in order to image at prime focus with my webcam.

You can't lose either way, the film is incredible value for money, especially if you make your own filter from the sheet.

[Qualia]

Specialist solar wedges is the only exception but only in special cases

Keith, do you mean that they can only be used with refractor telescopes and not reflectors or cassegrain/mak type of telescopes, or did you have something else in mind?

[Pig]

Keith, do you mean that they can only be used with refractor telescopes and not reflectors or cassegrain/mak type of telescopes, or did you have something else in mind?

I have often wondered this, about my SCT?

[Qualia]

Pig, as I understand it, unfiltered sun light on mirrors is a big no go area, so the Herschel Wedge can't be used on any type of reflecting telescope; it can only be used with refractors. The Baader safety film offers great views and is absoluetly fine for your SCT, maybe a good idea here would be to make an off axis filter for the 9.5".

[Bizibilder]

Yes - Baader film full aparture for any reflector (or equivalent film). Refractors can use a wedge but not with a diagonal!! The point is that you must not have sunlight (or sunheat) being focussed (even out of focus!) on to a mirror. The mirror will experience localised heating and will crack or shatter.

[Pig]

Pig, as I understand it, unfiltered sun light on mirrors is a big no go area, so the Herschel Wedge can't be used on any type of reflecting telescope; it can only be used with refractors. The Baader safety film offers great views and is absoluetly fine for your SCT, maybe a good idea here would be to make an off axis filter for the 9.5".

I thought as much, I will buy a nice big one soon, I don't fancy making my own.

Thank you