Using tasco newt to view the sun

[bathurst77]

I was wondering if my old Tasco newtonian (75mm) would be ok to use for sunspot viewing, using a projection screen?

Will the mirrors take it?

[iceman (Mike)]

I wouldn't bother with projection. Get some baader mylar solar film and make a cell to hold it on. It goes on FRONT of the telescope and filters the light before it comes in.

Have a read of this article for how I did it with my old 10" dob.

[ving (David)]

i have never tried projection, but have used film like mike has... film isnt that expensive so give that a try.

[bojan]

Projection may be risky if focuser and/or eyepiece are made of plastic...
It takes a second or two to smoke it with 75mm.
Baader mylar will cost you $20-30 (at York Optical)
B

[seeker372011 (Narayan)]

Yes my plastic eyepieces actually started smoking when i first tried -around the the time of the Venus transit- and I quickly invested in some Baader film

[bathurst77]

never heard of this baadar mylar. i will def give it a go

I know little tascos are not much more then toys, but im pretty sure not plastic. I gave projecting a shot yesterday, seemed to work ok, except i realised lens and/or mirror are dirty as.

[space oddity]

Make sure the baader film is very secure.If for some reason it falls off, you risk becoming instantly BLIND ! I have made super secure baader filters for my celestron 15 x 70 binos using plumbing end caps -super secure and super easy, not expensive. One of these days, the Fujinons will be solarised. My Etx 125 has an off axis baader filter using a milo tin with a bit of felt inside for security. Make sure the finderscope is covered up, or it could melt its reticle or burn you.For the transit of Venus, I had the finderscope covered with a glove and was letting anyone who was interested have a look through the scope.At one point, a rather stupid oriental tourist came up, took off the glove from the finderscope without permission and was about to look through the finderscope! When I pushed him away, he swore at me in some oriental language, not knowing that he just had his eyesight saved from his own stupidity! Just goes to show, you can outlaw dishonesty, but you cannot outlaw stupidity.

[space oddity]

Baader film is the way to go. Make sure it is very securely mounted at the front of the scope- if it falls off, you run the risk of becoming BLIND instantly. Also, cover the finderscope, the heat of the sun will melt the reticle or crosshairs and light going through could easily burn YOU. A little aside, at the transit of Venus, we had the finderscope of the ETX 125 covered with a glove and were letting anyone interested look through the filter protected scope. At one point, an oriental tourist came up,took off the glove from the finderscope without permission and was about to look through the finderscope.When I pushed him away, he mutterred what were probably profanities in his native tongue, unaware that he just had his eyesight saved from his own stupidity! This proves the old saying, You can outlaw dishonesty, but you cannot outlaw stupidity