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Although overlooked by many amateur astronomers, solar observation is both rewarding and fun. However, because the Sun is so
bright, special precautions must be taken when observing our star so as not to damage your eyes or your telescope.
Never project an image of the Sun through the telescope. Because of the folded optical design, tremendous heat build-up will result
inside the optical tube. This can damage the telescope and/or any accessories attached to the telescope.
For safe solar viewing, use a solar filter that reduces the intensity of the Sun's light, making it safe to view. With a filter you can see
sunspots as they move across the solar disk and faculae, which are bright patches seen near the Sun's edge.
Solar Observing Hints
The best time to observe the Sun is in the early morning or late afternoon when the air is cooler.
To center the Sun without looking into the eyepiece, watch the shadow of the telescope tube until it forms a circular shadow.
To ensure accurate tracking, be sure to select the solar tracking rate.
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Deep-sky objects are simply those objects outside the boundaries of our solar system. They include star clusters, planetary nebulae,
diffuse nebulae, double stars and other galaxies outside our own Milky Way. Most deep-sky objects have a large angular size.
Therefore, low-to-moderate power is all you need to see them. Visually, they are too faint to reveal any of the color seen in long
exposure photographs. Instead, they appear black and white. And, because of their low surface brightness, they should be observed
from a dark-sky location. Light pollution around large urban areas washes out most nebulae making them difficult, if not impossible, to
observe. Light Pollution Reduction filters help reduce the background sky brightness, thus increasing contrast.
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Viewing conditions affect what you can see through your telescope during an observing session. Conditions include transparency, sky
illumination, and seeing. Understanding viewing conditions and the effect they have on observing will help you get the most out of your
telescope.
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Transparency is the clarity of the atmosphere which is affected by clouds, moisture, and other airborne particles. Thick cumulus clouds
are completely opaque while cirrus can be thin, allowing the light from the brightest stars through. Hazy skies absorb more light than
clear skies making fainter objects harder to see and reducing contrast on brighter objects. Aerosols ejected into the upper atmosphere
from volcanic eruptions also affect transparency. Ideal conditions are when the night sky is inky black.
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General sky brightening caused by the Moon, aurorae, natural airglow, and light pollution greatly affect transparency. While not a
problem for the brighter stars and planets, bright skies reduce the contrast of extended nebulae making them difficult, if not impossible,
to see. To maximize your observing, limit deep sky viewing to moonless nights far from the light polluted skies found around major
urban areas. LPR filters enhance deep sky viewing from light polluted areas by blocking unwanted light while transmitting light from
certain deep sky objects. You can, on the other hand, observe planets and stars from light polluted areas or when the Moon is out.
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Seeing conditions refers to the stability of the atmosphere and directly affects the amount of fine detail seen in extended objects. The air
in our atmosphere acts as a lens which bends and distorts incoming light rays. The amount of bending depends on air density. Varying
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