what do i need to view sun with telescope

Are you lot hooked on planet, moon, and star-gazing? At some point, the question will arise – how do I observe the sun? Afterward all, it is our closest star and deserves attending.

Most people know that looking directly at the lord's day is a no-go. Simply, many people are not aware that yous need a special telescope to view the sunday.

In this article, we are taking astronomy out of the night sky and into the daylight. We accept reviewed five best solar telescopes, giving a summary of the chief features. This will assist you make an informed conclusion when deciding on which solar telescope is best for you.

We Recommend

Meade Instruments
PST Cornado

Sky-Watcher
Virtuoso Telescope

Meade Instruments
0.5PST Coronado

How to detect the sun?

To discover the sunday, you need a telescope that firstly protects your vision. Secondly, it must characteristic either a White Calorie-free Filter or a Hydrogen Alpha filter.

Every bit a family enjoying star-gazing, I was especially concerned that my children did not damage their eyes. So, I did some investigation.

White calorie-free filters.

• Ownership a scope with a White Low-cal filter is a groovy selection for beginners. It is a cheaper selection than Hydrogen Alpha filters.
• You tin can add together a White Light Filter to an existing scope and plow it into a solar telescopic.
• The filter is usually placed over the front end of the telescope and works by reducing the lite that hits the eyepiece.
• With a White Calorie-free Filter, you can view the Solar photosphere and sunspots.

Hydrogen Blastoff filters.

• This is a step-upwardly from White Light Filters and better suited for hardcore fans. These scopes feature in-built Hydrogen-Alpha (Ha) filters for safety solar viewing.
• This is non a component that you can purchase separately and add together to an existing scope. These filters but show the light spectrum in which the Sun has its about activity.
• You will be able to view the granulation on the Solar chromosphere. Yous will also see solar flares and prominences.
• Scopes with Ha filters are normally priced higher.

Tin can you utilize whatever telescope as a solar telescope?

You lot can turn many nighttime-sky telescopes into solar telescopes by adding a solar filter. The consequence is vision condom and knowing what you are doing. If your nighttime scope comes with a solar filter, yous can rest assured that information technology will fit properly and requite you the protection you demand. As a beginner, I would be hesitant to experiment and attach random filters to my scope.

Solar telescopes are made specifically for viewing the sun. Cheaper models take special filters that you adhere to the front when viewing. More expensive models feature an in-congenital filter known every bit a hydrogen-alpha bandpass. This reduces the calorie-free and restricts it to the wavelength spectrum emitted past the lord's day.

We soon learned that with a solar filter, you volition never see solar flares! My kids then responded, well in that case, why practise we need a filter? The answer is simple – never, Always, look at the lord's day without a filter. It tin can destroy your eyes.

To summarize – if you buy a PST, Personal Solar Telescope, y'all will not be able to utilize it for night sky viewing. If y'all take a nighttime-sky telescope with a solar filter, you have the all-time of both solar day and night viewing. Yous will, still, take less detailed views of the sun.

Of import accessories for solar observation

For solar observation, in that location are iii accessories that you need to consider.

Finder scope. A finder scope is an aiming device that allows you to pinpoint an object. Viewing the sun is more complex. You certainly don't want to look directly through your scope. The Sol-Searcher finder scope helped united states of america get started. Information technology is prophylactic as you don't look through it at the lord's day. It works by projecting an image of the sunday onto a screen.

Eyepieces and Barlow. When viewing the sun, information technology is important to apply eyepieces designed specifically for this. They are commonly optimized for viewing the lord's day in Hydrogen Blastoff light. These eyepieces offer performance rather than a field of view, giving y'all clearer images with less distortion. Nosotros found a set that offers a choice of 3 eyepieces. It too includes a 2x Barlow, which increases the magnification options. For ease of transporting, the ready comes in a handy carry case.

Proper Mount. Your telescope must exist correctly mounted. You certainly don't want it toppling over. You also desire a mount that is lightweight and like shooting fish in a barrel to set up. Some of the telescopes we reviewed have a user-friendly table mountain. Others don't come with a mount; we suggest the Heaven-Watcher Star Charlatan Pro Pack.

The solar viewing safety etiquette

The beginning event to remember when starting out every bit a solar astronomer –

NEVER Await AT THE SUN THROUGH A TELESCOPE THAT DOES NOT HAVE THE Correct FILTERS. Y'all WILL Cause PERMANENT AND IRREVERSIBLE DAMAGE TO YOUR Eyes. YOU Volition Too Impairment YOUR Telescopic.

Here are another important issues to keep in heed

• Certification. Ensure that the scope is ISO and/or CE certified. These scopes are prophylactic for solar viewing.
• No pinholes or coating errors. Don't attempt to save coin on solar telescopes. Cheaper models may have filters with pinholes or coating errors. This is the equivalent of viewing without a filter and is extremely dangerous.
• Snugly fitting filters. Some telescopes do not have permanently built-in filters. Y'all need to ensure that the filter you attach is snug and tightly fitted. There must be no light leaks or gaps.
• No reflector type telescopes. Practice not employ reflector type telescopes. They tin overheat, sustain impairment, and crusade injury to the user.
• Don't use a night sky telescope. Never use your nighttime sky telescope to view the sun unless you attach a proper filter.
• Use a finder scope. Never look direct at the dominicus. Utilize a finder scope that projects the prototype onto a screen for viewing.

Failure to do whatever of the above can result in eye injury and temporary or permanent blindness. Viewing the sunday can be fun, safe, and fascinating! Simply, you need the correct equipment and you must take precautions to prevent accidents.

How to cull the right solar telescope?

Here are some central points to consider when choosing the best solar telescope.

Discontinuity. Apertures can vary from 40mm to 100mm. Solar telescopes focus more on performance rather than the field of view.

Adjustable altitude tension knobs. This feature allows the telescope to motility smoothly with gentle paw pressure. Tension knobs give the right amount of friction to go on the telescope tube in proper residue, even when supporting additional accessories. They should be easy to turn and non require too much pressure. They should besides never loosen and let the tube to drib.

Adaptable eye-loving cup. Eye-cups are shades that foreclose light from entering your eye-piece. Adjustable eye-cups are groovy because they allow you to choose the amount of light you want.

Middle safety (safety filters). As nosotros take said many times, eye prophylactic is of paramount importance when viewing the sunday. Ensure that your scope has certified safety filters. Better however, purchase a scope with congenital-in filters to avoid bug of pinpoint holes or coating errors.

Fogproof. Telescopes with fog-proof tubes are usually filled with an inert gas similar Nitrogen. The gas creates a natural barrier that prevents the build-upward of moisture within the tube and stops fogging.

All-time solar telescopes

1. Meade Instruments EclipseView 114mm Reflecting Telescope

This telescope is very affordable for amateurs. The EclipseView has a big 114mm aperture.

The scope is lightweight at only 10.eight pounds. It also has a removable optical tube, which was super easy to disassemble. We had no trouble taking the scope with us on a family weekend pause-away.

The white-light solar filter is removable, allowing u.s.a. to utilize the telescope during the day and at night.

This certainly gave the best of both worlds. For ease of use, it has a night-fourth dimension Ruddy Dot and a mean solar day-Time Sun Finder.

It comes with 2 eyepieces, a 26mm a 9mm. The swivel mount stands on a table and moves through 360°. The betoken-and-view design was bully for easy viewing.

We saw fabulous views of the moon, planets, nebulae, and the sun. I was very pleased to know that it has CE & ISO Certification for safe viewing of the sun.

Check the toll of Meade Instruments EclipseView 114mm Telescope here

What nosotros liked

• Dandy price for beginners
• Day and night viewing
• ii eyepieces, 26mm and 9mm
• Like shooting fish in a barrel to transport
• CE & ISO Certified

What we didn't like

• Too simple for a professional person
• Instruction manual may be tricky to sympathise

Aperture: 114mm
Focal Length: 450mm
Magnification: 11x and 35x
Lens: 114mm
Weight: 10.8 pounds
Dimensions: 12.2 x 12.2 x 24 inches

2. Sky-Watcher Virtuoso Telescope

The Sky-Watcher Virtuoso is great for a beginner wanting a telescope with advanced features at a very affordable price.

It stands on an alt-azimuth table mount, which we found very easy to use. It likewise has a mounting subclass if you want to attach it to a tripod.

The scope has a 90mm lens and a v×24 finder scope. It features a bracket for DSLR (Digital Unmarried Lens Reflex) cameras, a camcorder, and a mobile telephone.

This was the first motorized telescope we reviewed. Nosotros were before long enjoying the automated functionality as information technology tracked our heaven object without manual intervention.

Nosotros also tried our skills at astrophotography. The family was proud of the results!For safe viewing of the sun, there is a Solar filter and Solar finder.

The Lord's day Dual Axis Encoders allows you lot to motility the mount by paw without losing the alignment. It comes with two eyepieces, a 10mm and 20mm i.25″.

Check the price of Sky-Watcher Virtuoso Telescope here

What we liked

• Well priced for beginners
• Solar day and night viewing
• 2 eyepieces, 10mm and 20mm 1.25"
• Easy to transport
• Bracket for DSLR, camcorder and cell phone

What we didn't similar

• Instruction manual tricky to understand

Aperture: 90mm
Focal Length: 1250mm
Magnification: 13x
Lens: 90mm
Weight: 17 pounds
Dimensions: xiv 10 xiv x xix inches

three. Meade Instruments Cornado PST Personal Solar Telescope

The Meade Instruments Cornado PST Personal Solar Telescope has a cost in the centre range and is fabricated specifically for viewing the sun.

It does not come with a mountain, then you would demand to purchase a separate one, or utilise a normal camera tripod.

The PST, Personal Solar Telescope, features a 40mm lens and a 400mm focal length.

For viewing of the sun, information technology has congenital-in filtering optics for ultra-safe viewing.

On a technical note, inside is a one.0-angstrom hydrogen-alpha (Ha) bandpass, which gives uncommonly clear detail of the sunday. We were able to see filaments and surface details, something we had never seen before!

Included with the scope is an 18mm plössl eyepiece. If you want to add actress accessories, you can purchase the gold CEMAX eyepieces separately.

Cheque the price of Meade Instruments Cornado PST Telescope here

What we liked

• Specifically for solar viewing
• Internal filtering optics for safety viewing
• Built in Sol Ranger
• Keen views of the sun
• Like shooting fish in a barrel to utilize built-in solar viewfinder

What we didn't like

• Mount not included
• No viewing of the night sky

Aperture: 40mm
Focal Length: 400mm
Magnification: 10x
Lens: 40mm
Weight: 3.ii pounds
Dimensions: 11 x 8 x twenty inches

four. Lunt Solar 50mm H Alpha Telescope

The Lunt Solar Telescope 50mm H Alpha is a professional solar telescope built for beginners.

Nosotros were very impressed with the precision and features of this model.

Information technology is higher priced but will go a lifetime purchase for those astronomers who have a special interest in the lord's day.

The telescope has a 50mm lens and a 350mm focal length. In that location is a special Blocking Filter 12mm eyepiece for safe viewing of the dominicus.

It also comes with a Helical Focuser and a Lunt Solar eyepiece. Information technology is prepare-to-view and does not require complex set or alignment.

We found the telescope to exist lightweight and piece of cake to pack into the automobile to take on vacation. It comes with a very handy aluminum instance. Information technology does not have a mountain, and so you need to purchase ane separately.

Cheque the price of Lunt Solar 50mm H Alpha Telescope hither

What we liked

• Powerful solar telescope for amateurs
• B400 Solar Blocking Filter
• Like shooting fish in a barrel ready and set up-to-view
• Aluminum case for transporting
• Infrequent solar views

What we didn't similar

• Higher price
• Mount not included

Aperture: 50mm
Focal Length: 350mm
Magnification: 7x
Lens: 50mm
Weight: 13.75 pounds
Dimensions: 23 x 15.8 ten 9.2 inches

5. Meade Instruments 0.5PST Coronado H-Blastoff Personal Solar Telescope

If you are serious about solar astronomy, this is the scope for you.

It has a high price just offers a professional instrument that will last a lifetime.

This Personal Solar Telescope has a 40mm aperture and a 400mm focal length. Solar viewing is safe with congenital-in filtering optics.

It features a 0.5-angstrom hydrogen-alpha (Ha) bandpass and comes with a black 18mm plössl eyepiece.

For like shooting fish in a barrel viewing, in that location is a built-in Sol Ranger viewfinder.

We were impressed by the additional filter, which makes the telescopic double stacked. Information technology narrows the sunlight wavelength more than the single filter, bringing out incredible detail on the lord's day's surface.

We could also choose to utilise the single filter to view solar prominences on the outer border of the disc.You will need to buy a mount, as information technology does non come supplied with one.

Bank check the price of Meade Instruments 0.5PST Coronado H-Alpha hither

What we liked

• Specifically for solar viewing
• Internal filtering optics for safety viewing
• Congenital in Sol Ranger
• Great views of the sun
• Like shooting fish in a barrel to use congenital-in solar viewfinder

What nosotros didn't like

• High price for a beginner
• Mount non included

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Source: https://www.planetguide.net/solar-telescope/