A sun finder is also a nice tool to use. Finding the sun with a telescope is not as easy as one would think. With an inexpensive Solar finder I can dial in the sun in seconds.
Celestron has one that they put on the 50mm Travel Solar Telescope. Optics on that are surprisingly decent. I wish they would sell JUST that solar finder as a stand alone product for $20 or something. It cannot cost that much given that the 50mm Travel Telescope was already a bargain.
I’ve found it easier to locate the sun or any target on the telescope first. Next remove the eyepiece and attach the cell phone adapter to the eyepiece. Next replace the eyepiece and adapter onto the telescope.
When I used to have an observatory I was able to leave it set up and maintain polar alignment and a computer model ready to go from nighttime observations. It was nice to slew to the sun with 1 button at any time. I cannot wait to get an observatory again. Hopefully soon 🤞
I wanted to get it right, so I contacted Celestron. Eric Kopit said Yes, there is a solar tracking rate. Looking in the manual, it appears to be under Menu>Tracking>Rate>Solar. To point at the Sun, you first need to unlock that option from the Menu>Utilities>Sun Menu You’ll want to do a “Solar System Align” during the day. You can actually use the Sun to align on (once you have unlocked it from the Sun Menu). Here’s a link to the manual: celestron-site-support-files.s3.amazonaws.com/support_files/12090_12091_12092_NexStar_EVO_Telescopes_Series_Manual_5lang_Web.pdf
Unless the scope has a model from a nighttime alignment I am not sure how accurate a solar alignment will be. My experience has been that regardless of tracking with solar rate or not fine adjustment is necessary. Please let me know if you know a better way. Maybe I can learn something new.
@jswyman "My experience has been that regardless of tracking with solar rate or not fine adjustment is necessary." was my last post. I'm aware of solar rate.
A sun finder is also a nice tool to use. Finding the sun with a telescope is not as easy as one would think. With an inexpensive Solar finder I can dial in the sun in seconds.
Celestron has one that they put on the 50mm Travel Solar Telescope. Optics on that are surprisingly decent. I wish they would sell JUST that solar finder as a stand alone product for $20 or something. It cannot cost that much given that the 50mm Travel Telescope was already a bargain.
I’ve found it easier to locate the sun or any target on the telescope first. Next remove the eyepiece and attach the cell phone adapter to the eyepiece. Next replace the eyepiece and adapter onto the telescope.
When I used to have an observatory I was able to leave it set up and maintain polar alignment and a computer model ready to go from nighttime observations. It was nice to slew to the sun with 1 button at any time. I cannot wait to get an observatory again. Hopefully soon 🤞
I have the Evolution 8" as well. Can you make it track the sun, so you don't have to constantly adjust the scope?
I wanted to get it right, so I contacted Celestron.
Eric Kopit said
Yes, there is a solar tracking rate. Looking in the manual, it appears to be under Menu>Tracking>Rate>Solar.
To point at the Sun, you first need to unlock that option from the Menu>Utilities>Sun Menu
You’ll want to do a “Solar System Align” during the day. You can actually use the Sun to align on (once you have unlocked it from the Sun Menu).
Here’s a link to the manual:
celestron-site-support-files.s3.amazonaws.com/support_files/12090_12091_12092_NexStar_EVO_Telescopes_Series_Manual_5lang_Web.pdf
I have the included eyepieces. Do you recommend something else? What about a reducer? Thank you
The best bet is to try to test via different eyepieces on the website “astronomy.tools” FOV calculator or through Sky Safari’s Field of View tools.
Do you have a new house? Also where is your general location? Keep up the great videos.
I live in Pennsylvania. I use my parent’s house where I grew up for dark skies. My house is nearby in a more suburban area.
What size eyepiece did you use?
Sorry, just seeing this now. 40mm
You can zoom in closer though with a lower mm eyepiece if you don’t care about getting a full disk.
Why are you tracking the sun manually instead of letting the telescope do that for you?
Unless the scope has a model from a nighttime alignment I am not sure how accurate a solar alignment will be. My experience has been that regardless of tracking with solar rate or not fine adjustment is necessary. Please let me know if you know a better way. Maybe I can learn something new.
@jswyman "My experience has been that regardless of tracking with solar rate or not fine adjustment is necessary." was my last post. I'm aware of solar rate.