APOD and General Astronomy Discussion Forum
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No, that will be opaque. Full aperture solar filters are either glass or some kind of coated plastic. Almost everyone agrees that the Baader film works very well, maybe best. It's cheap and easy to work with. That's what I would suggest (and there is no concern about your scope getting warm or damaged).BDanielMayfield wrote:Thanks Fred. I wonder if there is a possible substitute like a very thin tin foil that could be used as a filter. I also don't want to overheat the inside of my spotting scope.
But if the spotting scope was used to project an image without the use of such a filter there would be a real risk of damage to the scope, right?Chris Peterson wrote:No, that will be opaque. Full aperture solar filters are either glass or some kind of coated plastic. Almost everyone agrees that the Baader film works very well, maybe best. It's cheap and easy to work with. That's what I would suggest (and there is no concern about your scope getting warm or damaged).BDanielMayfield wrote:Thanks Fred. I wonder if there is a possible substitute like a very thin tin foil that could be used as a filter. I also don't want to overheat the inside of my spotting scope.
Yes, you could damage the interior if your pointing was off, or even the eyepiece lenses if they are cemented together. But as long as the aperture is under a couple of inches, you're unlikely to have a problem.BDanielMayfield wrote:But if the spotting scope was used to project an image without the use of such a filter there would be a real risk of damage to the scope, right?Chris Peterson wrote:No, that will be opaque. Full aperture solar filters are either glass or some kind of coated plastic. Almost everyone agrees that the Baader film works very well, maybe best. It's cheap and easy to work with. That's what I would suggest (and there is no concern about your scope getting warm or damaged).BDanielMayfield wrote:Thanks Fred. I wonder if there is a possible substitute like a very thin tin foil that could be used as a filter. I also don't want to overheat the inside of my spotting scope.
Note, however, that the film is for visual and photographic use. You can't use a filtered telescope for projection.BDanielMayfield wrote:Well, better safe than sorry, so I think I'll go ahead and order a sheet of film then. One sheet could be used to make filters for my scope, binoculars, and even eyeglasses.
Thanks for the tips.
You won't damage the devices. I doubt that the results will be very good, however. If those are your only options, you might consider an external lens to give you a much longer focal length.BDanielMayfield wrote:But my initial question is about iPhones and iPads. Is it ok to video the sun with cellphones, etc.?
Just came across this image, that illustrates so well that there’s cool things to be seen, even without fancy equipment. Only hands. Sorry about the sandals.Case wrote:As cool as some direct imaging is, I also love the projected images and the leaf-filtered ‘pinhole camera’ multi images.
New guide launched to help eclipse-chasers to ‘Get To The Path’ hassle-free
Has America made its plans for August 21? The first Total Solar Eclipse to sweep across the USA for 99 years is set for August 21, 2017, but many people are yet to finalize their travel plans. Negative publicity about sold-out hotels and potential traffic is dissuading people from planning a trip. A new guide aims to redress the balance with a simple message––there is plenty of room for everyone who wants to experience Totality.
As the publication of the unique USA Eclipse 2017 Camping & RV Guide ebook proves, there are hundreds of places to pitch a tent, or park an RV, within the 70 mile-wide Path of Totality that arcs from Oregon to South Carolina. Until now, finding information on camping and RV parks has been difficult.
Jamie Carter, author of the guide, a travel and science writer who edits WhenIsTheNextEclipse.com, says: “A Total Solar Eclipse is coming to the U.S.––it’s time to camp out. You don’t want to have regrets about missing out on Totality because of speculative news reports. Eclipses always come with horror stories about sold-out hotels and predictions of traffic chaos. The reality is that there are thousands of places to camp or park an RV within the long Path of Totality in the U.S., and if you’re able to travel, you must, because experiencing Totality is like nothing else. A Total Solar Eclipse in your backyard is impossibly rare––Americans just don’t know how lucky they are.”
In response to alarming reports of potentially unsafe eclipse viewers flooding the market as the coast-to-coast solar eclipse of August 21st draws near, the American Astronomical Society (AAS) has revised some of its safety advice to the public.
How can you tell if your “eclipse glasses” or handheld solar viewers are safe? It is no longer sufficient to look for the logo of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and a label indicating that the product meets the ISO 12312-2 international safety standard for filters for direct viewing of the Sun’s bright face. Why not? Because it now appears that some companies are printing the ISO logo and certification label on fake eclipse glasses and handheld solar viewers made with materials that do not block enough of the Sun’s ultraviolet, visible, and infrared radiation to make them truly safe. Some sellers are even displaying fake test results on their websites to support their bogus claim of compliance with the ISO safety standard.
Given this unfortunate situation, the only way you can be sure your solar viewer is safe is to verify that it comes from a reputable manufacturer or one of their authorized dealers. The AAS Solar Eclipse Task Force has been working diligently to compile a list of such vendors, now posted on its Reputable Vendors of Solar Filters & Viewers page. Task-force members have checked manufacturers’ ISO paperwork to make sure it is complete and that it comes from an accredited testing facility, and they’ve asked manufacturers to identify their authorized resellers and dealers to identify the source of the products they’re selling. Only when everything checks out does the AAS add a vendor to its listing. ...
Scientists, funding bodies, educators and the media alike need to carry this momentum forward. We live in a particular historic moment where this thirst for accurate science and fascination for astronomical events clashes with a strong movement rooted in scepticism towards scientists and research, from climate change to vaccines. When budgets get squeezed, it is all too easy to cut funding for outreach, but where are the scientists of tomorrow going to come from, and how can we tilt the public balance towards a more positive view of science? Spectacular shows that nature gives us for free, like the upcoming solar eclipse, are the perfect opportunity for this purpose, and we must welcome and support any initiative promoting them.
