looking at the Sun

[JimmyH155]

I made myself a solar filter last saturday for my 90mm refractor. Couldnt resist looking at the sun, but I became completely confused about focussing the eyepiece. Tried different eyepieces, but all I saw was a lovely white disc which looked pretty well the same wherever the EP was focussed. Is there a technique to focussing? as there is no detail to see? I ended up waiting for night and then focussing on a star - and that's where the EP stays!!:D :shrug:

[iceman]

There's nothing to see on the sun at the moment..

http://www.spaceweather.com/images2006/30oct06/midi512_blank.gif

With a white-light filter, all you'll see in sunspots and the sun is pretty devoid of them at the moment. Make sure you find the EDGE/LIMB of the sun and use that to focus, so you get as crisp an edge as possible.

[merlin8r]

Yep, what Mike said. If you want to see details like flares and prominences, one of the best solutions is the Coronado PST. This is a dedicated Ha solar telescope. There are full aperture Ha filters available for your scope, but be prepared to pay upwards of $3000!! For the transit of Mercury on the 9th of november, white light is probably better anyways.

Clear skies,
Shane

[JimmyH155]

Thanks for that info, guys:) I just wanted to see how best to focus in on Mercury, as I guess it's going to be tiny compared to the Sun:D

[Astroman]

take a piece of paper 1m x 1m and put a pin prick in it, this will give you some idea on size :)