Solar filters

RayBirds wrote: Hello everyone.

My first post here, very nice to meet you all

I'm very new to Astronomy, only recently bought my first pair of binoculars.

So much to learn but what a time to get interested in the hobby, I would love to see the upcoming transit.

Can anyone recommend an online shop that sells the solar paper? I won't be able to make it up to the Astronomy Ireland shop in person before the big day but would dearly love to see this event.

Thanks for any advice,

Ray

Welcome on board RayBirds
Why don't you give 'em a call and they'll pop it in the post.

Welcome to IFAS Ray.

As Pat said, AI will post. If it is out of stock try one of the UK shops such as, for example, SCS Astro, Harrison Telescopes or the Widescreen Centre. Make sure you get the visual solar film and not the photography one.

Hi Ray welcome to the forum, and Gordon thanks for the advice its a big help.

Brendan.

You're very welcome. I forgot to post the photo of my homemade binocular filters using Baader Solar Film so here it is now.

If you're doing this for the Venus Transit, do remember that in Ireland, the Sun will be rising above the horizon with the transit nearing the end so I'm not sure how good it will look through a filter if even visible. While observing a partial eclipse from Sandymount as the Sun rose above the horizon, I seem to recall the Sun being so dim at this point I couldn't see it using a filter on my ETX 90 until it rose a few degrees. I'll be using my Coronado Solarmax for this transit.

Many thanks for the warm welcome folks.

Didn't even think about getting Astronomy Ireland to post, excellent idea.

Gnason, I have been in touch with a friend who has an 6 inch Schmidt cassegrain telescope, he has very kindly offered to loan it to myself and the wife for next weeks transit as he will be away on business. He is a relative novice and does not have a solar filter (He bought the telescope on impulse).

Could I use the the baader paper on the telescope too? Or do you have to get the proper cover? Would it be worth the effort, or will the binoculars be just as good?

Thanks again folks

gnason wrote: I'm not sure how good it will look through a filter if even visible. While observing a partial eclipse from Sandymount as the Sun rose above the horizon, I seem to recall the Sun being so dim at this point I couldn't see it using a filter on my ETX 90 until it rose a few degrees..

Exactly Gordon, which is why you should travel as far north and east as possible, so it rises just that bit earlier and finishes abit higher in the sky.

As for the Baader Solar filter, shop around online, there are many shops out there who sell this stuff.