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Picture of TeleVue Sol-Searcher Sun Finding Device

TeleVue Sol-Searcher Sun Finding Device

Manufacturer : TeleVue
Part Number : SSF-1006

Sol-Searcher Sun Finding Device. A new safe sun finding device that fits in the ring mount slot of Tele Vue scopes, the Ranger slot, and may be mounted to other telescopes with screws or Velcro (not provided).

Please note: The Sol-Searcher is not a solar filter! You must purchase and attach your own solar filter to your telescope before using the Sol-Searcher finder.

Introduction
"I can't find the Sun!" sounds funny. However, the Sun should be tricky to find in a properly filtered telescope. You don't ever want to chance a direct gaze at the sun, let alone a magnified image of it. Sol-Searcher is absolutely safe because in order to use it, you look away from the sun. It functions as a projector, with its aperture acting as a "pinhole" to image the sun back on a translucent "screen".

Safety
Always make sure your telescope solar filter is safe and secure, finder telescope is covered, and your equipment is not left unattended. Remember, Sol-Searcher is a projection unit. Do not try to view the sun through the "pinhole" aperture.

Mounting
The Sol-Searcher attaches to the mount ring slot of every Tele Vue telescope (or to the rear cell slot in the Tele Vue Ranger).
1) With the nameplate side facing the front of the telescope, position the Sol-Searcher in the mount ring slot.
2) Insert the #10-32 cap head screws in the holes and tighten with the 5/32" Allen wrench.
For use with telescopes other than Tele Vue, mount the Sol-Searcher using #10-32 screws, or if necessary, attach with Velcro (not supplied).

Alignment and Use
The aperture acts like a "pinhole camera" to prject a bright solar disc onto the 1/4" translucent screen in the rear of the unit. You simply center the image on the screen to safely locate the sun, viewing the screen from either side.
1) After Sol-Searcher is mounted, center the projected image of the Sun in the translucent screen.
2) Look through your widest field eyepiece. You should see at least a portion of the sun. (Please note that it is unlikely you'll be able to accurately align Sol-Searcher so that the Sun is precisely centered. Sol-Searcher is for "capturing" the sun.)
3) If the sun was not in the field, or your want to try to align the image better, simply loosen the button head screws on the front and move the disc (the holes are oversized) to align the sun while it appears centered in the telescope. Retighten the button head screws.

Care
If necessary, the projection screen can be cleaned with a camel hair brush or cotton swab with Windex. Use very gently to prevent pushing out the projection screen. Note: Should the projection screen get poked out, please call Tele Vue!



Current rating is 5.00. Total votes 4.
 
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$28.99
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Great time-saver and wonderful little accessory
You would think finding the sun would be easy, right? Big ball of fire in the sky and all that. Well, after using a Coronado H-alpha filter with my Pronto for several months, I realized I was wasting quite a bit of time just finding the sun. Yes, I used the standard shadow method and a low power eyepiece. Sometimes Id be right on within seconds and sometimes (usually when other people were watching me!) it would take several minutes to capture the sun. Everytime I had to reposition the scope, I had to start over again searching for the sun. So, OK I need a solar finder. When I first spied photos of the Sol-Searcher, I imagined it as being much larger than it is and that deterred me from considering it. After more research, I realized it was smaller and might just work well for me.

The Sol-Searcher is perfectly integrated to work on a Pronto and several other TeleVue scopes. Although the mounting block is plastic, it seems completely rigid and durable. It really is small enough that you can leave it installed all the time and it doesnt impair storage or tranport of the scope. The projected solar disc is just slightly smaller than the white screen, so use and alignment is very easy. With slight adjustment to the Sol-Searcher (hex wrenches included!) I can get the sun dead center in a 25mm eyepiece within seconds whenever I want to setup or move my Pronto. At a cost of $25 for a TeleVue accessory, this is a bargain and the time and frustration saved is more than well worth it. If you spend any time at all with a portable scope looking at the sun, do yourself a favor and get a Sol-Searcher.

From: | Created on: 10/16/2009 1:48:46 PM

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Simple and effective!
It sounds funny to say I cant find the sun, but sometimes the shadow method doesnt get you quite close enough.  The Sol-Searcher makes acquiring the Sun fast and is inherently safe.  The small projection screen on the rear disk is thin enough to allow the tiny solar image to be viewed from behind the finder.  Useful, and possibly the cheapest Tele Vue item youll ever purchase!

From: | Created on: 10/16/2009 1:48:40 PM

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sol searcher
works fabulous on my meade lx200 8 i just used double sided tape to stick it on. sure takes the work out of initally finding the sun.

From: | Created on: 10/16/2009 1:48:39 PM

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From: | Created on: 10/16/2009 1:48:39 PM

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