Eyepiece filters for solar viewing with Baader Film

[Glenhuon]

I've just spent a very enjoyable day in the backyard observing old Sol through the 60mil with a baader filter at the front end. It took me a while to pick up the two small spots on the disk but once I found them I tried various eyepiece filters to enhance the contrast. The best one turned out to be a 30% Moon filter. A look around the limb in the hopes of seeing a prominence proved fruitless. Is there a filter which will help bring out the details a bit better ?

[csb]

Hi Glenhuon

I think this forum is actually for showing your images. You need to post in the Equipment forums or similar.

To your question - to see prominences you need a Hydrogen Alpha (Ha) filter. These filters cost over $2000. Coronado make the PST (Personal Solar Telescope) and this will give you views of proms and surface detail - cost about $900A.

Seems there is no cheap option for viewing solar details.

NOTE: Do not confuse Solar Ha filters with Nebula Ha filters. Nebula filters cost only a few hundred but are no good for the sun - you may go blind.

[MikeyB]

The best filter colour for white light solar observation (eg. with Baader film) of surface details (granulation, etc.), is supposed to be dark green. Baader themselves make a dark green 'Solar Continuum Filter', which they claim is even better, although I've read comments for and against. There's a detailed description here:

http://www.aoe.com.au/solarobserving.html

In the text, Baader claim that, "Details like flares at the sun's rim or details within sunspots become clearer and easier to see", which sounds promising. Unfortunately, I think I've read that the advantages - if any - are for photography rather than visual observation. If you're a looker rather a shooter, I believe Craig's comment that white light viewing won't show prominences is correct, unfortunately.

My own preference is Hydrogen Alpha viewing with a Coronado PST - even at the present solar minimum, interesting surface activity is frequently visible and prominences are commonplace. PST's aren't a cheap instrument, but Sol is the only star in the sky that any of us will ever see up close and personal and the view is amazing!

[Glenhuon]

Thanks mikey,
I have a green filter but its a light one but think I have a darker green moon filter in the case. I'll give that a go.

No worries CSB,
I use a Baader film filter over the objective lens, just looking for a bit more detail. You only get issued with one pair of eyes per lifetime, an I'm lookin after these ones :)

Clear Skies