My observing and outreach buddy Drive By Astronomy Mr.Mike decided yesterday to take some of his "kids" out for a afternoon Solar viewing session after his yard work. Nice combo in this clan with a dedicated H-Alpha scope, and 2 refractors in white light to enjoy a Sun which is finally showing signs of activity! And of course some of this ensemble stayed out to enjoy lunar views later in the day. I wonder if Mr.Drive By has time for anything else?
Monday, July 6, 2009
Taking The Kids Out For A View
My observing and outreach buddy Drive By Astronomy Mr.Mike decided yesterday to take some of his "kids" out for a afternoon Solar viewing session after his yard work. Nice combo in this clan with a dedicated H-Alpha scope, and 2 refractors in white light to enjoy a Sun which is finally showing signs of activity! And of course some of this ensemble stayed out to enjoy lunar views later in the day. I wonder if Mr.Drive By has time for anything else?
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The "kids" did have a great time. The little old school 60mm Bushnell performed very well for projecting the sun directly on to the little white projection screen that came with the scope. I haven't done that in 30 years. I did it all the time when I was a kid. Sadly I always used to use a solar eyepiece filter too...no one every told me back in the day that it is a very dangerous way to observe the sun. Oddly they always came with the scopes.
The 120mm Konus (Donated to the "Edmund's Scientific" in Tonawanda, NY and obtained from their astronomy "graveyard") was great for projecting the sun onto a large piece of white mounting board. I used two old cheap eyepieces which proved to be the right decision as I melted some of the plastic inside the eyepiece and filled the scope up with smoke.
As always the sun was spectacular in H-alpha. Wonderful prominences and the sunspots were extraordinary.
I melted a eyepiece a few years back. Good to know I am not the only one to do this. The unit still works fine and I use it form public outreach!
Solar projection, lots of good memories there! It is a miracle we are not blind after using those eyepiece solar filters.........I would spend hours on the sun with mine!
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