Re: [ATM] SUN FILTERS

[Michael Lindner <mikell@optonline.net>]

Andreas Derwahl wrote:
> I am not sure if it's any use to you, but a very detailed and informative
> webpage is: http://www.sonnen-filter.de/ , the downside being it's in
> German.

That's not a downside!

http://translate.google.com/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sonnen-filter.de%2F&langpair=de%7Cen&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&prev=%2Flanguage_tools

(if the link gets split by the mailer, just copy and paste the pieces 
back together).

For the transit of Venus a couple of years back I made a 4 sided (the 
top and one side are open) projection box out of foam board (like 
http://www.framingsupplies.com/MatBoardFoamBoard/FoamBoard.htm). It's 
held together with tape and rubber band, and folds flat when not in use. 
It's also held to the scope with rubber bands. It's so light it doesn't 
affect the balance very much on my old 6" f/7 scope 
(http://home.att.net/~mikel/scope/scope1.jpg).

I rotate the scope until the eyepiece is pointing down, attach the box, 
aim by watching the scope's shadow on the ground, and focus. It gives 
great images, and several people can view at once. It was a big hit at 
the transit, and at several school events.

The best part is, it's totally safe. if it breaks, the light just points 
down at the ground, not at someone's eye. I'd highly recommend it. It 
cost me about $10 in materials and about an hour to make.

Clear skies!
-- 
Michael Lindner
http://www.starastronomy.org *** http://home.att.net/~mikel
http://www.atmsite.org *** http://www.atmlist.net
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