Modding finderscope to find sun?

[Supay]

I have some baader solar film which now forms a lovely filter on the front of my scope.

In order to use the finderscope,can i just add some filter film to the front of that too and construct my own shields from cardboard to prevent glare/blinding myself?

I've seen some very good looking solar shields,but I didn't see any point in spending out when some cardboard would do the job.

[yeti monster]

Yup, proper cardboard, from a cornflakes packet will do just fine........

[runoffshed]

Could perhaps also think of using a simple coach bolt with round eye bolted through the top end of the tube with a small "projection" screen a little further down. Find the sun in the main scope, then mark the centre of the eye shadow on the screen and it should be lined up for life then. I know it sounds simple but I use this for finding the sun with my 'flowerpot' solar projector and it works really well. Also, you line it up looking away from the sun.

Just an idea.

John

[yeti monster]

'Flowerpot'?? do tell........

[runoffshed]

'Flowerpot'?? do tell........

Sorry, should have explained. Someone once came up with a solar projector (they called it the Solar Gun) which used a telescope to project an image onto a screen from behind - you view the image through the screen from the other side ...rear projection. The downside of this is that you are looking towards the sun to view the image so a development is to use a prism / secondary etc...to bend the image and view it at right angles to the sun. A flowerpot is the ideal thing to hold the back projection material and also, using half a flowerpot, to shield the screen. I'll try and attach a photo to make this clear.

Many apologies if I've now gone off topic and hijacked the original thread. However, my idea for the 'bolt eye' finder is what I use on this projector.

John

[runoffshed]

Should have added, the idea of using a flowerpot was not mine but I think a member of the BAA who coined the phrase 'Flowerpot Projector.'

John

[Peter Drew]

All you need is a small hole in your finderscope objective cover cap, cover this by glueing a small piece of solar film and use the capped finder as usual. This mod still protects the finder and the cap can be removed for nightime.

[blinkity-blonk]

I use a bit of cardboard from a box of skimmed milk (no one ever said astronomy needs to be glamourous) and I blu-tak a bolt onto the lens cap to use a 'sundial'. Needs some refinement, but it does the job.

[ian_bird]

I use a bit of cardboard from a box of skimmed milk (no one ever said astronomy needs to be glamourous) and I blu-tak a bolt onto the lens cap to use a 'sundial'. Needs some refinement, but it does the job.

That is just pure genius! Thank you for the tip!

Cheers

Ian

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

Some good solutions here. I got a TV Sol-Searcher with my Lunt LS35, and those are a fairly inexpensive solution for those without DIY skills. Several other variants exist