Anyone have or have made a solar finder? Adapted a telerad or rigel?
Solar Finder
Started by yadda1, 09/25/2003 07:11PM
Posted 09/25/2003 07:11PM
Opening Post
Posted 09/25/2003 07:33PM
#2
No - but it would seem to be pretty simple.
How about a screen with some guide marks (typing paper?) and a post or clear plastic disc with a cross scribed on it. Fit them both into a 12 inch PVC tube that fits your finder bracket, each at either end, and simply center the post/crosshair shadow onto the paper guide marks to center the OTA. You could even cut a side port into the tube and look in from the side to make it a "RA Finder" (mount the screen at a 45* angle - kind of like some LASER collimators). If you needed more "power" simply lengthen the tube (distance between the post/crosshairs and screen) as needed.
Conversely you could replace the post/crosshairs with a large "pin-hole" made from tinfoil and have a crude image of the sun on the screen to line up with the reference marks you made. See which system works best for you.
FWIW
TM
How about a screen with some guide marks (typing paper?) and a post or clear plastic disc with a cross scribed on it. Fit them both into a 12 inch PVC tube that fits your finder bracket, each at either end, and simply center the post/crosshair shadow onto the paper guide marks to center the OTA. You could even cut a side port into the tube and look in from the side to make it a "RA Finder" (mount the screen at a 45* angle - kind of like some LASER collimators). If you needed more "power" simply lengthen the tube (distance between the post/crosshairs and screen) as needed.
Conversely you could replace the post/crosshairs with a large "pin-hole" made from tinfoil and have a crude image of the sun on the screen to line up with the reference marks you made. See which system works best for you.
FWIW
TM
Tom Mengel
Moderator Equipment Talk
“Insanity: Trying the same thing over and over and expecting different results”.
Albert Einstein
Posted 09/25/2003 07:34PM
#3
I used a piece of pvc tubing with a cap on one end. I cut a 45' wedge out of the cap to make a viewing port. Then I made a dove tail mount of pvc tubing by cuting a section lengthwise out of the tube and attached it to the other tube lengthwise with pop-rivets. I put this in the dove tail reciever that would normally hold the finder scope.
When the scope is turned toward the sun a circle of light is cast on the inside end of the cap. When the circle is perfect the sun is in the EP on the scope.
This si a simple and easy way to make one, I am sure there are many others.
Floyd
When the scope is turned toward the sun a circle of light is cast on the inside end of the cap. When the circle is perfect the sun is in the EP on the scope.
This si a simple and easy way to make one, I am sure there are many others.
Floyd
[SIZE="Large"][/SIZE][COLOR="Blue"][/COLOR] Floyd Blue
Amateur Imager
Funding Member
