AST195 ON-LINE PROJECT
SOME
EQUIPMENT -- SOLAR FILTER
Do
not attempt to observe the sun on your own until you have received training
through the Solar Observing Project (Project #H).
VERSION FOR
ON-LINE STUDENTS
In this project
you will construct a solar filter for your telescope using some cardboard and
staples and some high-quality solar filter film, either from Germany called
Baader Astro-Solar Film, or from Thousand Oaks Optical (see the section on the
class web page on “information on required telescope and solar film”).
You need:
·
Your
telescope
·
Lightweight
cardboard (like cereal boxes)
·
Small
scissors (for cutting small, round holes)
·
Good,
heavy tape or a stapler
·
Solar
filter film
·
A
container (such as a cheap plastic food storage container, or a box with a lid)
to safely store the completed filter in. You must have a prominent label on the
container that says “TELESCOPE SOLAR FILTER – HANDLE WITH CARE” (why? Because students in the past have had
family members trash their solar filters because the family members did not
know what the solar filter was and thought it was some cardboard junk).
The basic
method of making a filter is to sandwich the film between two rings of
cardboard (such as is shown below), which are attached to a sleeve that fits
over the end of the telescope. The usual
appearance is shown at right. The tough
part is attaching the sleeves to the two ring sandwich, without damaging the
film. This is usually done by making a
strip of cardboard with tabs (such as is shown below). The tabs are attached to the rings.
Click
here for a video on how to make a solar filter.
You will need
to provide cardboard, scissors, etc. for constructing stuff from
cardboard. Light cardboard (such as is
used in cereal poxes) is probably the best choice. Heavy corrugated cardboard is probably not a
good idea -- too stiff. You also will
need your telescope tube for sizing the filter and sleeve.
You will need a container in which to put the filter.
The filter is an important piece of safety equipment that will protect
your eyes, and it must be properly cared for.
The container must be labelled as described above.
Note -- you
are not constructing a toy. You are
constructing an important piece of astronomical safety equipment. If you do a poor job of constructing your
filter, or do a poor job of caring for your filter, you may damage your
eyesight when viewing the Sun.
Do not
attempt to observe the sun on your own until you have received training through
the Solar Observing Project (Project #H).
To receive
credit for this project you will need to successfully construct a filter and obtain
a container/case, and document this through photos.
Create a
document that includes the following photos:
·
At least five photos showing you at different
stages of assembling your solar filter.
·
Three “close up” photos of the assembled
filter, on the telescope. The photos
must be taken from various directions.
The filter must have your name on it, and the name must be visible in at
least one of the photos.
·
A photo of the case, with its label visible.
·
A photo showing the filter in the case.
That’s ten
photos total. Save the document as a PDF, as usual, and e-mail it to me.
The basic cardboard parts of the filter (see the
video):