Solarscope Solarfilter Instructions
September 04

Care of your Solar Filter

It is imperative that your solar filter, a precision instrument using a Fabry Perot 'air spaced' etalon is carried and handled with care. Always store and carry the solar filter in the case supplied. Avoid any knocks or blows. Do not drop solar filter, such an impact could separate the optical contacts and may also cause irreparable damage to the etalon optical components.

Optics

Clean only when necessary. Do not attempt to wipe dust off optics with dry cloth. Use a photographic lens puffer to blow away dust specks. Use quality optical lens cleaner with disposable lens tissue. Always replace instrument protective caps when not in use.

Procedures for Set up and use

Beforeattempting to align telescope to the sun. Ensure adapter plate, solar filter, secondary blocking filter assembly and eyepiece are correctly fitted

Always support your solar filter underneath with one hand, use other hand to screw filter onto adapter plate, do not over tighten filter. Mount secondary blocking filter assembly onto focuser unit of telescope, then the eyepiece. Do not look directly at the sun. Align telescope to the sun using an alignment aid such as the Tele-Vue Sol Searcher or use the telescope shadow projected on the ground or white card. Another method is to centre the front filter shadow onto the adapter plate.

With telescope aligned, focused and sun disc located in the centre of the field of view. The solar filter can now be tuned. The knurled rotary wheel on the side of filter allows the etalon a small degree of adjustable tilt. This tilt is used to fine-tune the filter bandpass and thus image resolution. Only adjust etalon fine tilt to optimise view while actually observing the solar disc. Effect to surface detail and image resolution will be immediately apparent.

Use same procedure for the double filter system, where the two etalons are used in series to enhance contrast. With the individual etalon fine tilt adjustment, remove all etalon back reflection images from the field of view when optimising image. Setting up the double filter system is routine, when familiar with the appropriate knurled rotary wheel positions.

The secondary blocking filter mounted in the 2"” accessory unit has it’s tilt angle preset to optimise contrast during final solar testing at the factory and does not require further adjustment on both single or double filter systems.

Under no circumstances should the user remove the front solar filter while the telescope is in use and aligned with the sun. The focused image will crack or cause irreparable damage to the secondary blocking filter.

* * Warning * *

Under no circumstances should the user attempt to alter or remove any part of the solar filter or blocking filter assembly. Attempts to alter, disassemble or tamper with the instrument will compromise its safety, may result in personal injury and will void guarantee.

If the solar filter is to be used in conjunction with another finder or guide telescope, it is imperative that all optics of such other optical instruments are covered by a lens cap to prevent sunlight entering these instruments and to avoid accidental viewing.