I have never done any solar observing and was wondering what would be needed to safely view the transit of Venus? I'll probably be using a Pronto. thank you, Bill
What is needed to view the transit of Venus?
Started by Bill in Ballard, 03/26/2004 04:18AM
Posted 03/26/2004 04:18AM
Opening Post
Posted 03/28/2004 06:42PM
#1
Your Pronto will be fine for solar observations. I always keep a filter with my mine for impromptu solar sessions. Although I have used the technique before with reflectors I have never been tempted to do Solar Projection through the Pronto or my TV eyepieces.
You can buy or make a safe solar filter. Although I started out with a glass filter from Thousand Oaks Optical I now use Baader film with custom cells almost exclusively. Like many other solar observers I have come to prefer the sharpness and contrast of images through the Baader film to other filter types.
Safe filters don't have to be made of glass, elaborate, or expensive. Here is a link to some filter construction images that I posted last week in the Yahoo! Groups Talking Telescopes photos section. There is also a solar eclipse photo in the batch.
http://photos.groups.yahoo.com/group/telescopes/lst?.dir=/BAADER+AstroSolar%99+Filter+Types&.src=gr&.order=&.view=t&.done=http%3a//briefcase.yahoo.com/
I am on the West Coast as well. Where -are- the best skies on the Atlantic Coast of North America during early June?
Don
You can buy or make a safe solar filter. Although I started out with a glass filter from Thousand Oaks Optical I now use Baader film with custom cells almost exclusively. Like many other solar observers I have come to prefer the sharpness and contrast of images through the Baader film to other filter types.
Safe filters don't have to be made of glass, elaborate, or expensive. Here is a link to some filter construction images that I posted last week in the Yahoo! Groups Talking Telescopes photos section. There is also a solar eclipse photo in the batch.
http://photos.groups.yahoo.com/group/telescopes/lst?.dir=/BAADER+AstroSolar%99+Filter+Types&.src=gr&.order=&.view=t&.done=http%3a//briefcase.yahoo.com/
I am on the West Coast as well. Where -are- the best skies on the Atlantic Coast of North America during early June?
Don
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