Thanks for this Ed Jones, i am going to make one of these. I have been fascinated with solar observing since I was a kid and had a telescope during the 1979 eclipse. That telescope had an attachment that hung from the focus barrel where I could project the sun onto a screen and get a great highly detailed image. I was looking for this type of attachment for my 70 mm f:10 Meade Reflector, I bought for my kids, but you can't get anything like it these days. i just made a Sun funnel and hoping it will work to view the eclipse in a few days. I live in The Dalles Oregon and we will see 99.1% of the sun covered here. If we drive 50 miles south we will be in totality. Haven't decided if we are going to drive south or just stay at home. all the people coming from other places have kind of inundated services and places to stop and view the eclipse. Anyway, love the simplicity of your design.
Thanks for this great video, I loved yhis projector and I'm looking to build something similar for the upcoming oslar eclipse in Chile. I got a question though, at first I thought the mirror would be placed behind the focal point of the lens in order to get areal image, but you said the lens had a focal lenght of 86 feet, so what determines the distance between the mirror, the lens and the image plane?
At this long F ratio when the light comes to focus it has expanded to an 8.5 inch image because of the image scale so no, there is no hot spot and the intensity is always reduced.
I don't know if you are ever gonna be able to respond to this, but I have never seen a project like this before. I am very impressed. Actually I would like to build one of this for myself. But I have to ask, how did you get this lens? Where could I look for one of this? Is this from a telescope? Thank you for the video.
@@Opticsed My admiration for what you did only grew, however it is a shame because this kind of thing is outside of the realm of my abilities. But anyways, I appreciated the response. I will try to adapt it somehow.
You must get quite a workout going back and forth while tracking the sun as it moves. About how long is the image full before having to adjust the mirror?
Ed, what is your distance between the lens and mirror. I have the same size lens and mirror as you used but was wondering what spacing you used. Thanks! Ronnie
Is this a project that you are still actively making and selling? I'd be very interested in this but saw no updates or items on your website other than the write-up for this. I have been looking for a refined version of this, like yours, and am eager to try one out if you are still making and selling these.
It would be nice if you can figure this out to project onto a sheet of paper, so you can keep the light beam localized, for extra safety when kids or dumb people want to view the sun.
Ignacio Valle I ground and polish a plano-convex lens with a 80 foot focal length. The long focal length gives the large image scale and no color. See my web page opticaleds.com
Ed Jones Thx again! Look, here in "my lands" the lenses are so expensive..., i'm wondering...; would be an option to build lenses through the best epoxi crystal resin available...? What do you think about it?
My web site is: opticaleds.com/unusual-telescope-designs/solar-projector/ and yes I still sell these. If you are planning any outreach for the 2017 eclipse you'll need one.
🎯Thanks for the idea, Mercury transit is coming and I don't want to miss that 👍
Thanks for this Ed Jones, i am going to make one of these. I have been fascinated with solar observing since I was a kid and had a telescope during the 1979 eclipse. That telescope had an attachment that hung from the focus barrel where I could project the sun onto a screen and get a great highly detailed image. I was looking for this type of attachment for my 70 mm f:10 Meade Reflector, I bought for my kids, but you can't get anything like it these days. i just made a Sun funnel and hoping it will work to view the eclipse in a few days. I live in The Dalles Oregon and we will see 99.1% of the sun covered here. If we drive 50 miles south we will be in totality. Haven't decided if we are going to drive south or just stay at home. all the people coming from other places have kind of inundated services and places to stop and view the eclipse. Anyway, love the simplicity of your design.
That's a beautiful projector you have there!
Thanks for this great video, I loved yhis projector and I'm looking to build something similar for the upcoming oslar eclipse in Chile. I got a question though, at first I thought the mirror would be placed behind the focal point of the lens in order to get areal image, but you said the lens had a focal lenght of 86 feet, so what determines the distance between the mirror, the lens and the image plane?
Ed, Where did you get the convex lens? Short notice, what can I use for one? I really like your setup. Can I use a magnifying glass?
The lens is 4 inches with about an 80+ foot focal length and the mirror 3.9 inches.
Ed
Thanks Ed thats great.
Great video mate
Where did you get the lens? Awesome video!
Hi Ed,
I tried to find lens with 80+ foot focal length and it was impossible. Could help me to find one like yours?
Thanks.
At this long F ratio when the light comes to focus it has expanded to an 8.5 inch image because of the image scale so no, there is no hot spot and the intensity is always reduced.
Hi Mr. Jones, would you be willing to provide specs on this? Size of lens, distance between lens and mirror, etc.? Thanks.
Hi what size lens did you use as Id love to make one of these for the forthcoming eclipse in the UK for school kids to use to view it?
Is the focal length of the planar convex lens 86' ? I assume the planar convex as opposed to convex is a longer focal length ?
Will a biconvex lens work the same or does it need to be plano convex? and how did you determine the distance from the lens to the mirror? thanks!
biconvex lenses would work even better.
I don't know if you are ever gonna be able to respond to this, but I have never seen a project like this before. I am very impressed. Actually I would like to build one of this for myself. But I have to ask, how did you get this lens? Where could I look for one of this? Is this from a telescope? Thank you for the video.
You would need to make it yourself as I did. They are not commercially available.
@@Opticsed My admiration for what you did only grew, however it is a shame because this kind of thing is outside of the realm of my abilities. But anyways, I appreciated the response. I will try to adapt it somehow.
Can I please purchase one of these projectors?
You must get quite a workout going back and forth while tracking the sun as it moves. About how long is the image full before having to adjust the mirror?
I wonder how this would work if the sun is higher up in the sky... such as at noon?
A neat idea. Thanks for sharing.
Ed, what is your distance between the lens and mirror. I have the same size lens and mirror as you used but was wondering what spacing you used.
Thanks!
Ronnie
Is this a project that you are still actively making and selling? I'd be very interested in this but saw no updates or items on your website other than the write-up for this. I have been looking for a refined version of this, like yours, and am eager to try one out if you are still making and selling these.
It would be nice if you can figure this out to project onto a sheet of paper, so you can keep the light beam localized, for extra safety when kids or dumb people want to view the sun.
Can I purchase a projector like this? What would you recommend?
Ed, Great Idea! Are you still selling these? The website in your video does not appear to exist.
A mirror will suffice.
Very good!
Can you replace the mirror and lense with just one concave mirror (i.e. magnifying hand mirror)?
I tried this. Couldn't get a clear image.
Excelent!!! If you can, Ed, tell me; what kind of lens are you using? Thx for your time!
Ignacio Valle
I ground and polish a plano-convex lens with a 80 foot focal length. The long focal length gives the large image scale and no color. See my web page opticaleds.com
Ed Jones Thx again! Look, here in "my lands" the lenses are so expensive..., i'm wondering...; would be an option to build lenses through the best epoxi crystal resin available...? What do you think about it?
Ed Jones Impressive data in your web! Thx again!!!
Ignacio Valle
I wouldn't use plastic but window glass would work OK. The curve is very slight.
Ed Jones Thx, Master.
What kind of lens do you use? , have some reference measures?
It's a plano-convex lens with about an 85 foot focal length, hand made.
How do I make one of these?
What is the type of mirror, means convex, concave or plane?
The mirror is flat. It just feeds sunlight into the plano-convex lens.
My web site is: opticaleds.com/unusual-telescope-designs/solar-projector/
and yes I still sell these. If you are planning any outreach for the 2017 eclipse you'll need one.
will this show nibiru?