Spectrum Full Aperture Glass Solar Filter for 73 mm - 79 mm OD Telescopes

To ensure that the solar filter you buy will fit properly, please take a few moments and measure the outside diameter of your telescope, spotting scope or binoculars before you order. Remember, the solar filter needs to fit snugly around the front of the tube assembly that holds the optics. If the filter is slightly larger than its diameter, the filter can be made to fit by the addition of self-stick felt spacers to the inside of the cell. However, if the filter is too small it will not fit, and that would be a shame. So please, measure before you order. Thanks.

Spectrum Glass Solar Filter for 73 mm - 79 mm OD Telescopes

This Spectrum Full Aperture Glass Solar Filter fits the following instruments:

• Celestron 60
• Meade DS-60 EC
• Orion 70
• Takahashi FS-60
• Vixen A70LF

This 82 mm ID Full Aperture Glass Solar Filter from Spectrum Telescope lets the maximum amount of light possible pass through to your telescope safely, providing peace of mind when directly viewing the Sun. Your telescope's entire aperture is employed when observing for the highest potential daytime viewing quality with very low atmospheric instability. When instability is encountered, a mask can be installed over the filter for sufficient aperture reduction.

When directly viewed using this durable premium solar filter, the sun will appear in an organic yellowish-orange state. This filter contains felt padding and a centered aluminum cell that attach to the end of the telescope with nylon thumb screws. The ST325G Solar Filter is made with hand-selected glass of superb quality with reflective coatings that are meticulously inspected.

In order to prevent potential damage that may occur in transit, this filter comes sheathed in plastic and placed in a foam-lined box. When not in use, this box can also serve as a convenient means of storage. Includes complete instructions on proper use and care.

Spectrum ST325G Full Aperture Glass Solar Filter Specifications

• Inside Diameter: 3.25" (82 mm)
• Clear Aperture Diameter: 2.37" (60 mm)
• Fits instruments with an outside diameter range of 2.875" - 3.125" (73 mm - 79 mm)

In order to assure a proper fit, please be sure to measure the outside diameter of your telescope before committing to purchase a specific solar filter as telescope specifications may be modified with subsequent versions due to re-designs, etc.

What About Your Finderscope?

Adding this solar filter to your telescope will adequately filter the light coming through your focuser, but have you considered what you’ll do about your finder scope?

Here are some suggestions for dealing with your finder that will assure you do not damage your eyes (or anyone else’s) by looking at the Sun through your telescope’s unfiltered finder:

• Remove Your Finder. Ditching your finderscope when solar viewing will remove the possibility of someone accidentally looking through it to spot the Sun. Of course, not having a finder makes centering the Sun in your eyepiece more difficult, but with practice, it can be done. Set the mount down so the telescope is pointing in the direction of the Sun. Put the main solar filter on so you can check your progress, and then move the telescope around until it casts a shadow that produces a nice, sharp silhouette of the scope. The OTA will look circular. Now move your telescope up or down with your hand controller, slow motion controls, or very carefully by hand if required while looking through the eyepiece. You will not get a warning when you are close, but you should be able to align with the Sun using this method. Practice ahead of time before any big event, like an eclipse, to make sure you’ve got the process down.
• Filter Your Optical Finder. This solution is not recommended for a reflex or red dot finder since it is too easy to accidentally look around the window. If you have one of these finders we recommend you either remove it or replace it with a dedicated solar finder (see below).

  To make your optical finderscope safe for solar viewing you’ll need to buy a piece of Baader Solar Film for Visual Use. This film comes in different size sheets and cuts easily with scissors, allowing you to make your own filter. You can go super low-tech and use a rubber band to hold a piece of the film firmly around the finder or you can get fancy and build your own slip-on solar filter. However you attach the solar film, you need to make sure there are no light leaks at all and that it doesn’t accidentally fall off when you move your telescope around. Any unused film can store flat between two pieces of cardboard and will keep for years. It is nice to have around, just in case of a solar emergency :-)

• Buy a Dedicated Solar Finder. Check out the Tele Vue Sol-Searcher Solar Finder. This special finder can only be used when observing the Sun, but it works very well. The Sol-Searcher is reasonably priced and can be attached to your telescope with Velcro or with #10-32 screws (user supplied).