Solar Observing / Imaging

[Keiran]

Hi all,

Just a quick one, I have a SW explorer 200p on an EQ5 mount, upgrading soon to synscan goto. Can i use this to observe the sun, if not will it be possible to use a meade starlight 80mm f10 refractor.

What would i need to modify this for solar viewing?

Any help would be great.

Keiran

[Merlin66]

Both are OK scopes to observe the sun in white light.

You just need an A4 sheet of Baader solar film filter and you could probably make a 90mm "off axis" aperture filter for the 200mm and a full 80mm filter for the refractor ( as well as the finder!).

[Llamanaut]

Just a quick one... any tips for making a solar filter... i noticed the baader film for £17 at Flo and wondered what was the best way of making one... I value my eyes!

[Merlin66]

It comes with basic instructions as to how to make a film holder.

Basically two 1" wide strips of card wound and glued into rings around the aperture... I made one for a C5 overnite....pretty straight forward ( don't forget the finder;))

Ken

[beamish]

You might want to have a look on Scope'n'skies astroboot too, you might find a ready made solar filter that'll fit the 80mm