SW Skymax-90 f/1250 for solar?

[Alienfox]

Having just read the 'Show us your frac' topic and feeling totally inadequate, the doorbell rings and I get my new SW Skymax-90, whoopeeeee, feel much better now.

My question is, can I use this scope for solar imaging?  I have a sheet of solar film so I can make the filter, is this a good scope for this sort of work?

Thanks. 

[Steve Ward]

Good scope for Solar , only thing against it is the focuser which makes nailing precise focus tricky ... 

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

Any scope can be used for white light solar with solar film. A Herschel wedge is off limits for reflectors and catadioptric scopes like Maks and SCTs.

[Alienfox]

Any scope can be used for white light solar with solar film. A Herschel wedge is off limits for reflectors and catadioptric scopes like Maks and SCTs.

Why is that?

[Steve Ward]

Because the concentrated unfiltered light falling on the secondary mirror will damage it ... 

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

When using a Herschel wedge, the full energy of the sun is reflected from the primary onto the secondary. Especially in scopes with fast primary mirrors (like SCTs Maks, or RCs), the secondary gets highly concentrated sunlight on part of its surface and may shatter. In very slow Newtonians you can get away with it (I have used a 6" F/8 for solar projection, which has similar issues, but that worked)

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

Because the concentrated unfiltered light falling on the secondary mirror will damage it ... 

SNAP

[Alienfox]

SNAP

OK, sorry to be a pain, but I am still very new to all of this, I have a Baader AstroSolar Safety Film ND 5.0, that I plan to put in front of the scope, is that still going to cause me problems?

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

Not at all. With that film, you are excluding 99.999% of the energy, so it is totally safe for use in any scope.

[Alienfox]

Thanks

[ronl]

Here is an easy and safe way to make one http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p014hpkh

[happy-kat]

Only a real brief mention at the end of that link, but don't forget to also protect with correct solar film any finder scope/device in use.

[Alienfox]

Thanks to everyone here for their help, as a newbie I still have so much to learn but its made easier by all the help on these forums.

[Steve Ward]

For a great tutorial to get you started on the imaging road try this from Roger .... http://stargazerslounge.com/topic/153712-simple-white-light-solar-imaging/

[TractionMan]

The Skymax 90 is great for quick grab & go solar sessions (that's the main use of my little mak). I do try some basic solar imaging every now and then, with varying result. It can be a bit tricky to really nail focus, but with patience it's no doubt doable. I made my filter cell/holder from camping mat and stiff cardboard and it works very well:

http://stargazerslounge.com/topic/185097-crude-diy-project-solarfilter-solarfinder/

One of my solar imaging attempts, nothing special compared to the highly skilled imagers on SGL, but I'm having fun dabbling every now and then  :

http://stargazerslounge.com/topic/220512-sun-201407-09-white-lightfalse-colour/

[Merlin]

Bear in mind not to stretch the film. It should be "relaxed" in its cell. Also, we should make absolutely sure that the cell won't fall off the 'scope.