ORION TELESCOPES & BINOCULARS 07747d Instruction Manual

Orion Film Solar Filters
®
This Orion Film Solar filter is designed specifically for safe
observation of the Sun through a telescope. It permits safe
observation of the Sun, allowing sharp, resolved views of
sunspots, penumbral detail, solar granulation, and lighter col-
ored faculae. They are also great for viewing solar eclipses
and planetary transits. You'll see the Sun in a neutral white
color, without any artificial orange or blue tinting as with
some other types of filters. All processes connected to this
product have been thoroughly tested. Coatings are inspected
constantly for consistency to ensure your eye safety!
Do not use a filter that shows any hole or tear! If you
suspect a defect, please contact us for return instruc-
tions. All solar filters are covered by a limited liability
warranty from defects in material and workmanship.
Telescope Compatibility
Orion Film Solar filters are designed to fit specific Orion tele-
scope tubes. They are made from the dust covers for those
telescopes, which snap into the front opening of the tube. We
recommend these solar filters ONLY for the Orion telescopes
for which they were designed. (See the product descriptions
on www.OrionTelescopes.com for which filter fits which spe-
cific telescope models.) They may not fit properly on other
brands of telescope, which could result in eye damage
should the filter fall off during observation of the Sun or be
damaged when attempting to fit a filter on a telescope it was
not designed for.
Pinholes and Filter Safety
Despite the thin, flexible nature of the Orion Film Solar filter
material, it is actually a high-strength polymer that stands up
to considerable abuse. The coating on the polymer cannot
easily be rubbed off. It is applied on both sides of the film.
Since it is nearly impossible for any manufacturer to produce
WARNING: Never look directly at the Sun with the
naked eye or with a telescope – unless you have
a proper solar filter installed over the front of the
telescope! Otherwise, permanent, irreversible eye
damage may result.
a filter coating that is completely pinhole-free, a few pinholes
may be found. Even if you find a pinhole on one side of the
filter, however, it is likely that the other side is still coated, pro-
viding sufficient protection. However, if you find a pinhole that
goes completely through the filter, do not use it.
Check the filter's optical surfaces for any possible damage
before each use. The view through your telescope should be
comfortable and not appear excessively bright. Stop looking
immediately if the view is excessively bright.
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INSTRUCTION MANUAL
Note that rippling or warping in the film material is normal
with Film Solar filters and does not have any effect on the
image you will see or on the filter's safety.
Using the Solar Filter
Make sure the filter fits securely onto the front opening of the
telescope. If it feels loose or comes off easily, DO NOT use it!
Keep the front of any finder scope covered with its opaque
objective cap or a couple layers of aluminum foil, if it is not
equipped with its own solar filter. Better yet, remove the find-
er altogether when observing the Sun. An uncovered finder
scope is dangerous to look through. Even if you do not look
through it, however, unfiltered sunlight could melt internal
parts of a finder scope.
To aim the telescope with solar filter installed at the Sun with-
out aid of a finder scope equipped with a solar filter, you can
use the shadow cast by the telescope as a guide. Point your
telescope in the general direction of the Sun, and watch the
shadow cast by the telescope tube on the ground. Move the
tube gradually back and forth, up and down until the shadow
is the smallest it will get. The Sun should then be visible in
the eyepiece field of view.
Allow the telescope and filter to equalize to the outside tem-
perature for at least 15 minutes. Direct sunlight may warm
the tube assembly enough to cause internal heat currents
that can degrade image quality, especially on dark-colored
telescopes. You might want to cover the tube assembly with a
light-colored cloth to help avoid this.
If possible, do not view over pavement or buildings, which
radiate heat. Those rising "heat waves" will reduce the sharp-
ness of the images you see through the telescope. Viewing
over grass will help avoid surface heat currents.
Removing the Solar Filter
Point the telescope away from the Sun before removing the
solar filter! Removing the filter while the telescope is aimed at
the Sun is dangerous if anyone is looking into the eyepiece,
and can damage the telescope if left pointed at the Sun for
too long.
Solar Photography
Orion Film Solar filters can be used for viewing and for pho-
tography. By attaching a camera body to a telescope, in effect
using the scope as a telephoto lens, you can take striking
photographs of the Sun. Only attempt this if the telescope is
equipped with the proper solar filter.
Depending on the aperture and focal length of your tele-
scope and "seeing" conditions, you will need to experiment
to find the best exposure time for your equipment. Do not be
discouraged if your first attempts at solar imaging are less
than "stellar." The Sun is very difficult to image because of
poorer "seeing" conditions caused by unavoidable heat cur-
rents associated with daytime viewing. The highest possible
resolution for any land-based telescope, regardless of loca-
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Corporate Offices:
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