wanting to start photographying the sun

[Danny_86 (Danny)]

Hey guys,

I'm looking at wanting to photography the sun, but don't want to start yet until I know exactly what I'm doing. The last thing I wanna do is damage equipment & cost me thousands. I have a 10inch dobsonian goto what type of equipment would I need to start, I also use a 7d mounted with a T-Ring.

Any help would be great

[Merlin66 (Ken)]

You could do some basic solar imaging in white light - this will show the sunspots and surface granulation.
The safest way is to make up a cover for your scope with a 75mm or so aperture. Use a piece of Baader Solar film to cover the hole (don't forget to put a piece over the front of the finder!)
I'm sure you'll ask - yes, you could use a full (10") aperture filter - if the seeing conditions are good then it will give better resolution - but a 75/100mm works well 99% of the time.
HTH

[Shark Bait (Stu)]

These photos show my homemade solar cell with Baader Solar Safety Film ND5.0 for visual use. The reason it has been screwed onto the dust cap stop down is to ensure that it cannot be removed by curious kids. As others on the forum have pointed out, the Sun doesn't take prisoners. For extra safety I use 100mph cloth gaff tape to secure the dust cap to my Dob for solar viewing.

If you just want to use it for photography there is ND3.8 available. It will show reveal more detail in your photos but cannot be used for visual observations.

It is a very cost effective method of getting into solar and your gear will not be damaged. The last shot is from the Transit of Venus using afocal photography with a happy snapper. You will get much better results with your 7D.

[JB80 (Jarrod)]

It's probably worth noting too that if you do get the ND3.8 for photography to still use the ND5.0 on your finder scope. It's a little detail I know but it could save your eyesight.

[Danny_86 (Danny)]

Cheers guys, So the ND5.0 for visual use, & the ND3.8 for photography, So stu the filter is mounted onto your dust cap for solar photography. So this is solar imaging in white light, do you know how to get other solar imaging with colour & see the solar flares as well? I think starting off doing the solar imaging in white light is good but would like to push it further.

[Danny_86 (Danny)]

I do own a clip in HA filter that can go into my camera

[Merlin66 (Ken)]

Danny,
Keep the night sky Ha in the box....
To image or view the Sun in Ha you need a VERY complex and expensive set of filters. This Ha system is designed to give a bandwidth <0.1nm.
The cheapest entry point to solar Ha is the Coronado PST or Lunt 35.

[brian nordstrom (As avatar)]

Hi Danny and welcome to the wonderful world of empty pockets , that's what AP is .
And as Ken said you need either a Ha solar scope from Coranado or Lunt to view the sun in Ha light NOT!!! a Ha deep sky filter these are NOT!!! the same .

The 1st shot is Venus from last year thru my 127mm istar and Lunt 'Hershel Wedge' solar filter , this gives great 'white light ' views .

You get similar results by using a solar filter material like Shark Bait's one .

The 2nd and 3rd are taken thru my Coranado 'SolarMax 40' Ha telescope , this shows prominances etc.
And the 4th is the Wedge in my SKY90 and SolarMax 40 side by side .

All these shots taken 'High Tech' with my HTC one hand held up to the eyepieces , great results can be had this way .
Just one more thing , the Hershell Wedges only work in refractors , no other design of scope .
Keep us informed as to your progress ..

Brian.