The sun with a Baadar solar filter

[NotPrinceHamlet (Graham)]

Hi all,

I bought some Baadar solar filter a month or so back and made a frame for it and had a look at the sun. I wasnt really expecting that much, but it would be nice to see more than just a featureless white disk.

Do any of the various contrast enhancing filters make any significant difference? Such as this green filter http://www.aoe.com.au/solarobserving.html?

Unfortunately, my budget doesnt extend to a hydrogen-alpha scope!

[Blue Skies (Jacquie)]

Well, you wont see anything much at the moment, but not because of the filter but because we're currently experiencing the longest solar minimum since the early 1900's. Come back in six months or so with fingers crossed and we might be seeing some action then. So a green filter wont help any more, either. The only thing people are seeing with the h-alpha filters are small prominences, and even they are scare. Patience is the only solution.

[NotPrinceHamlet (Graham)]

OK - Thxs for your advice!

[astroron (Ron)]

Do you have a refractor? as that filter is only for them with a pre filter.

[NotPrinceHamlet (Graham)]

I have a small reflector - Celestron Nexstar 4SE.

[astroron (Ron)]

Originally Posted by NotPrinceHamlet

I have a small reflector - Celestron Nexstar 4SE.

Graham, From what I read you cannot use that filter setup
Except for normal Solar filters such as Mylar ect, I don't think there is a cheap way of viewing the sun safely with much detail,except Sun Spots.
PST's and the like are expensive because they let light through in a specific wave length.
I like you wish I could see more detail, but a dedicated Solar Scope is out of the question for me at the moment
Cheers

[Rob_K]

NPH, I think you'll enjoy it more when a few sunspots come back. Like Ron & yourself, a dedicated Ha or CaK solar telescope is a bit out of my range! I use the Baader film with a 4.5" reflector, and on a good day you can see plage and faint granulation as well as sunspots. Occasionally I've wondered if a simple Moon polarising filter fitted in the eyepiece would reduce glare a bit and show the granulation better (used WITH the Baader filter of course!!!). I've got one, just laziness never trying it out I suppose! Promise I will next time!

Cheers -

[NotPrinceHamlet (Graham)]

Thanks all - do sunspots appear on that NASA realtime image to the left of this page, that I could expect to see through my scope?

[astroron (Ron)]

Yes they do.
As the sun is in what is called Solar Minimum there is next to non sunspots at the moment.

[JD2439975 (Justin)]

Originally Posted by astroron

Do you have a refractor? as that filter is only for them with a pre filter.

Ron, could you elaborate on where you read this?

I have a Baader continuum filter paid for and on its way to me now and my primary filter (thousand oaks) is for the 10" reflector.
If worst comes to worst I can always buy another primary filter for the ED80 but that's just another expense.

I did a bit of reading up before buying and found no reference to only for refractors.

You've got me worried now, hoping you're wrong in the nicest way.

[astroron (Ron)]

Originally Posted by JD2439975

Ron, could you elaborate on where you read this?

I have a Baader continuum filter paid for and on its way to me now and my primary filter (thousand oaks) is for the 10" reflector.
If worst comes to worst I can always buy another primary filter for the ED80 but that's just another expense.

I did a bit of reading up before buying and found no reference to only for refractors.

You've got me worried now, hoping you're wrong in the nicest way.

Justin, after re reading the advert it seems I misread it
It said "even in high end refractors"
Sorry for that
I hope things work out for you and will watch with interest the results of your endevours

[JD2439975 (Justin)]

Originally Posted by astroron

I hope things work out for you and will watch with interest the results of your endevours

Thanks Ron.

Just recieved the filter today while on the way to send my EQ6 back for the second time (not having much luck with this thing).
First one was DOA, the second had chattering gears & intermittent shutdowns on slewing...third time lucky eh.

Sorry to hijack your thread Graham, I'll try and make up for it by posting some with & without filter pics.
As a newbie to all this I can't promise getting stunning images of granulation but I'll give it a whirl.

[Merlin66 (Ken)]

The combination of a Baader Solar filter up front and a green or continuum filter at the eyepiece, I found was one of the BEST combinations for visual observing.
I tried various coloured filters, LPI and red Ha ( for deep sky objects) at the eyepiece and found that the green was far ahead in giving better contrast and allowing observation of the granulated surface.
Sure, it's not a Ha type solution but very worth while for sunspots, AR's and other phenonoma.

[alphamone]

I also did some viewing through my baadar filter today (mostly to test it, as I have just put it together today), and didnt see anything on the sun, but I did see two birds flying across the sun, and the details on their silouhettes (sp?) was very good, so at least I know that the filter doesnt have any major distortion.

[Merlin66 (Ken)]

To see the granular structure you need a pretty high magnification ( x180 or so) and good steady seeing conditions.... but it can be done and imaged in white light!

[Blue Skies (Jacquie)]

Corr, he's thrown down the gauntlet! Now there's a challenge.