Embarrassing question

[wozza]

Sorry about this question but i can't find anything in the instructions ,i have a large cover that goes over the end of my scope (skywatcher explorer 130p az goto)with a small cap that comes off to leave a small aperture .

Is the cover for use in the day and then you take it off for night use or do you keep it on all the time ?

[Lorne]

From my limited experience, I assume its for cutting down the light entering the scope when viewing brighter objects like the moon etc.

[Merlin66]

Can be used for that...

Or you can get a bit of Baader solar film and stick that on the inside surface behind the small opening and use it for white light solar observing (remember to cover the finder!)

This small aperture is a throw back to the early days when a projection method (or Herschel wedge) was used to view the sun.

It cut down the amount of light to "safe" levels. DO NOT remove the small cap and try to observe the sun without additional filters - you will severely damage your eye.

[wozza]

Thanks for the replies ,i thought it may be something like that ,one more question ,does it matter where the hole is positioned ?

[Merlin66]

No, not really.

[RascalUK]

Lol. I assumed it was so you could let the warm air out of the tube while still giving the mirrors a bit of protection.