Solar Filters

[mick pinner]

does anyone have any experience or comments on the Thousand Oaks Full Aparture Solar Filters? thanks.

[h0ughy]

yep they are great, thats all I use and have, BTW up until last week I owned 5 of them from 80 through to 12". all my solar shots are through one

[Rodstar]

Don't forget your PST, HOughy!

I have been wondering, while we are on the subject of solar filters, what products are available to convert an ordinary refractor (such as my ED80) to a Hydrogen Alpha solar scope? I understand from something I read somewhere on the web that it is possible to get an attachment (which includes a filter, and other things too???) for the front of the scope, and that you also may need a filter at the EP end of the light train. Is this the case?

The reason I ask is that having been spoilt on using HOughy's PST Coronado for a week, I found the solar prominences and flares the most interesting phenomena, and you can't see those with an ordinary solar filter such as the one that started this thread discussion.

Anyone know anything on this point?:shrug:

[MikeyB]

There's mention and a pic of this arrangement in the discussion at:
http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=3479&highlight=solarmax

Aussie retailers Advanced telescope Supplies:
http://www.atscope.com.au/coronado.html
and BinTel:
http://www.bintel.com.au/Coronadofilters.html
have some info online.

[[1ponders]]

Rod, go to the coronado website. They have a number of options. One is converting a standard refractor into a Ha scope. Rogerg has some experience with this as well.

Optcorp carry all the filters and accessories required.


Oh and Mick, I have a Thousand Oaks filter for my 8" SCT and if the cloud ever buggers off I'll get to use it more than the twice I have since buying it just before the Mercury Transit