Solar Observing

A few days ago, while still recovering from mast cell symptoms, the sun had peaked through the clouds so I grabbed a lightweight telescope with a solar filter and headed outside.  

I wasn't feeling well enough to do any solar imaging (that can get complicated and involves a lot more gear...  as well as a clear head) so I just grabbed one of my lightest scopes which happens to be my lowest quality scope too.  Even though this was my lowest quality scope, I knew it would be good enough for a few quick views of the sun.  Besides, it was still mostly cloudy and the sun was just peaking out in between clouds.  I knew the solar observing would be short-lived on this day so it would have been a waste to use up energy on my better, heavier and bulkier astronomy gear.

The moment I peered through the telescope, I realized that the sky conditions were lousy too.  I hadn't noticed it before but it was hazy and the sun was veiled in thin clouds that I could see passing in front of the sun.  The sun was sort of glowing through the eyepiece because it was illuminating these thin wispy clouds.  It was kind of a cool effect but it would ruin any chances of seeing finer details on the surface of the sun.

We are beginning to enter a more active cycle of solar activity so there were a few sunspots to see this time as well as some faculae.  I wouldn't see the bubbling plasma granulation this day though because of the rather lousy sky conditions.  I suppose that is good news otherwise I would have wanted to drag out some better gear and do some imaging yet I knew my health wasn't up for that.  

Below, you can see that this lightweight telescope sits just fine on a photographic tripod which makes the whole package lightweight.  The head of the tripod adjusts smoothly.  This makes it lightweight and easy to grab while heading out the door for a few quick views.

Here is a shot of the solar filter, below.  This particular solar filter is glass and made by Spectrum and I've found that I really like these filters.  I like them far more than film filters and this one is a new solar filter for this particular telescope.  Previously, this Celestron refractor telescope had a Celestron film filter mounted in a masked aperture filter holder.  That filter reduced the aperture to 40mm.  I far prefer the full 70mm aperture of this glass filter instead.  It is significantly better!

It was nice to get a few quick views of the sun.  This time of year, we are generally socked in with clouds, every day and every night.  Many days we have snow falling from the sky.  Regardless, I still hope for a few clear days and evenings so I can enjoy some astronomy though.