Solar finder woes

this is the main message area for anything solar :)
Post Reply
denababy
Ohhhhhh My!
Ohhhhhh My!
Posts: 172
Joined: Thu Jan 25, 2018 12:01 pm
Been thanked: 17 times

Solar finder woes

Post by denababy »

Hi everyone I have finally ordered a Quark chromosphere and waiting for it to arrive so in the meantime I am looking for a Solar finder to put onto my Explore Scientific scope. The problem is that the scope has an unusual foot, that, I think can be changed. I contacted the shop where I originally got the scope in the hope they would be able to help but either I talk in a foreign language or something but as yet I have not had one useful answer. There are no Astonomy shops in Leicester uk and as I am nearly deaf I have to do everything by email. Can anyone help please please please.


User avatar
MalVeauX
Way More Fun to Share It!!
Way More Fun to Share It!!
Posts: 1853
Joined: Tue May 09, 2017 7:58 pm
Location: Florida
Has thanked: 1142 times
Been thanked: 1329 times

Re: Solar finder woes

Post by MalVeauX »

Hello,

I use these:

http://www.dynapod.com/dyna-hp1.html

They just strap on, and you're good to go.

Very best,


denababy
Ohhhhhh My!
Ohhhhhh My!
Posts: 172
Joined: Thu Jan 25, 2018 12:01 pm
Been thanked: 17 times

Re: Solar finder woes

Post by denababy »

Thanks Marty do you know where I can get one in the UK?


User avatar
MalVeauX
Way More Fun to Share It!!
Way More Fun to Share It!!
Posts: 1853
Joined: Tue May 09, 2017 7:58 pm
Location: Florida
Has thanked: 1142 times
Been thanked: 1329 times

Re: Solar finder woes

Post by MalVeauX »

I don't; but it looks like they ship international and are still cheaper than a basic Sol Finder. I have a televue sol finder and the helio-pod. I use both. They work the same. The Helio-pod can go on all my scopes though, so I use it the most.

You can also just put a solar film filter in front of a finder scope that is already aligned on your scope. I do this too.

Here's the helio-pod on my 120mm, and if you look at the 40mm finder scope on its back, it has a small 50mm solar film filter on it, so I can just look through that and get a good wide field of view and center up on the sun. I use the helio-pod simply to point in the right direction, then I look through the solar film filtered finder scope to center up with the big scope (which operates at 4200mm when I image/view). Next to it, a televue Sol finder is held onto that 80mm scope with a rubber band. Does the job either way. I prefer the helio-pod for simplicity as it was designed to be banded on like that. Ultimately though I have to have a finder scope with a solar film filter because my big scope is way too long to attempt to find the sun without it.

Image

Very best,


User avatar
pedro
Way More Fun to Share It!!
Way More Fun to Share It!!
Posts: 12236
Joined: Sun May 01, 2016 8:26 pm
Location: Portugal
Has thanked: 14 times
Been thanked: 6556 times
Contact:

Re: Solar finder woes

Post by pedro »

I have a FLICKR album that includes a few solar finders:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/pedro_re/ ... 3388014205

Imagetaka_fs60_solar_20160213-04 by Pedro Ré, on Flickr
Homemade solar finder

Imagestar_adventurer_sun_20180616-016 by Pedro Ré, on Flickr
Homemade solar finder

Imagesol_searcherTV-01 by Pedro Ré, on Flickr
Sol Searcher

Imagesolar_imaging_session_20180216-052 by Pedro Ré, on Flickr
Sol Searcher


denababy
Ohhhhhh My!
Ohhhhhh My!
Posts: 172
Joined: Thu Jan 25, 2018 12:01 pm
Been thanked: 17 times

Re: Solar finder woes

Post by denababy »

It has been quite a while since I started this post so here is an update. I purchased a Daystar Quark along with a Baader uv/ir filter (2”) and as suggested by Marty, a hello-pod, I am waiting for delivery of everything but when they arrive I will be able to use my Explore Scientific 80mm scope, in the meantime I have been collecting data with my Lunt 50 ready to do some processing when the weather is not as good in the uk as it has been for nearly 5 weeks, in Leicester that is.
You never know I may post some pics when I consider there is anything I consider worth showing.


Ewan
Almost There...
Almost There...
Posts: 678
Joined: Wed Apr 01, 2015 6:41 am
Has thanked: 13 times
Been thanked: 41 times

Re: Solar finder woes

Post by Ewan »

Personally I have never had the need for a solar finder, once my ERF is on I slew to roughly where the sun is & then slew slowly until I get a nice red disc from the rear showing on my hand, connect the Quark & it's good to go ;-)

Good luck with your new solar set up I am sure you will enjoy it.
Atb


Post Reply