Need Solar filter for Vixen ED 103 refractor

[hotspur]

Well,I suppose I'd better get organised for this transit of Venus,never thought about buying a solar filter for my Vikki 103-where do I start,how much is it going to cost,can I get one for a 103 mm scope???

Thanks for any help-Chris

[mithrandir]

Chris, take the OD of the tube and see if one of Bintel's (http://www.bintel.com.au/Accessories/Solar-Filters/128/catmenu.aspx) will suit. I can't see one to fit my ED127, but I have one for my C8.

optcorp have glass Thousand Oaks listed (on backorder) for various scopes around the 102/103mm size (http://www.optcorp.com/product.aspx?pid=471-1303-1310-11218), and for the Meade version of the ED127 (special order). Also Baader solar film (http://www.optcorp.com/ProductList.aspx?uid=471-307-1306) ones.

[naskies]

Chris,

I bought my Thousand Oaks white light filter locally from here:

http://www.astroshop.com.au/products/solar-filters.asp

You just need to measure the outer diameter of where the filter will go (such as dew shield) and find the next size up, e.g. the diameter of my dew shield is 158 mm, so I had to get the 165 mm filter.

It comes with an adhesive felt liner to help give a snug fit, but I'm a bit safety obsessed so I always gaffe tape the filter on securely if I'm looking through an eyepiece :)

The Thousand Oaks one is nice because it adds a yellow-orange tinge to the sun, i.e. it looks "natural" rather than white/grey. Here's a pic that I shot with my SLR attached at prime focus (minimal post processing).


Cheers,

Dave

[gbeal]

Unless you have two left thumbs, give some thought to building one up, buy some Baader AstroSolar Film from any of the suppliers and fabricate the cell yourself.
Gary