First Light ST80 w/ Homemade Solar Filter

by Ron Britton

I figured I would get even more use out of the ST80 if I could use it to check out good old Sol during the daylight hours. I checked out the web looking for a solar filter for it and found that most of the filters cost almost as much as I paid for the scope, so the solar scope idea started to fade. Then I remembered reading about Baader solar filter film. Well another trip to Google and I found a sheet big enough, but the smallest I could find, to make 4 filters for the ST80 for just $22. And better still the site had a link to the "How to make your own Solar Filter" page.

So here we are a couple of weeks later and the Baader film showed up and I finished my cardboard ring mount and took the little ol ST80 out on the deck to take a peek at Sol.

I should mention that the above mentioned web site, that I got the Baader film from, also had a cute little Televue Sol-Searcher Finder for $25 so ordered that too. A bit of Velcro and the Sol-Searcher has a nice perch atop the ST80 and I can line up and find Sol with ease.

My first view was with a 25mm Plossl giving me about 16x. It was about 7:30pm by the time I got everything put together so Sol was getting low in the sky and this may have had a lot to do with my views. Could not make out any sun spot or prominences and when the image appeared to be in good focus the outer rim of the sun appeared to be boiling. This this was my first look at Sol I will ask the question is this normal, the boiling appearance, or was that due to atmosphere/seeing?

I popped out the 25mm and put in my 6.3mm to take a look at 63x and Sol would just fit in the field of view. Still could not make out any sun spots or prominences. The boiling effect around the rim was now very pronounced. Still was cool to be looking right at the sun taking up just short of the entire fov.

I know we are now about at the lowest point of the eleven year solar activity cycle so not surprised that there was virtually no detail on the face.

Can anyone suggest links to their favorite sites for solar observing info?

Will be taking another look tomorrow. I think this could become a regular lunch time habit. :-)

-Ron-