ORION TELESCOPES & BINOCULARS Deluxe Safety Film Solar Filters User manual

Orion®Deluxe Safety Film
Solar Filters
IN 548 Rev. A 3/15
INSTRUCTION MANUAL
Orion Deluxe Safety Film Solar filters are designed specifi-
cally for safe, white-light observation of the Sun through a
telescope. Made from high-quality Baader AstroSolar™
Film*, they provide sharp, resolved views of sunspots, pen-
umbral detail, solar granulation, and lighter colored faculae.
They are also great for viewing solar eclipses and planetary
transits. You'll see the Sun in a neutral white color, without
any artificial orange or blue tinting as with some other types
of filters.
This filter material (ND5 density) transmits less than 0.001%
of sunlight through the telescope. That might not sound like
much, but it’s just enough to see the Sun in its full glory while
keeping your eyes safe from its harmful, intense radiation.
Baader AstroSolar™ safety film has been approved for eye
safety by the National Bureau of Standards in Germany, the
PTB. Unlike any other Solar Filter on the market, AstroSolar™
is CE-tested according to EG-Norm 89/686 and EN 169/92
(notified body 0196). All processes connected to this prod-
uct have been thoroughly tested. Coatings are inspected
constantly for consistency to ensure your eye safety!
Do not use a filter that shows any through-hole bigger than 0.5 mm
or tear! If you suspect a defect, please contact us for return instruc-
tions. All solar filters are covered by a limited liability warranty from
defects in material and workmanship.
Providing Exceptional Consumer Optical Products Since 1975
Telescope Compatibility
Each Deluxe Safety Film Solar filter is mounted in an alumi-
num cell that slide-fits over the front opening of your tele-
scope. Each filter can fit telescope tube diameters up to 1/4"
smaller than the specified inside diameter (ID) with use of the
included adhesive foam tabs. There are four 1/16" thick tabs
and four 1/8" thick tabs so you can customize a friction fit to
your telescope. A tight friction-fit is required for safe solar
viewing through a telescope.
The filter is also equipped with three equidistant nylon
thumbscrews in the aluminum cell. They are there for extra
security to ensure a safe, snug fit of the solar filter to the
front of your telescope. The thumbscrews are intended to
complement the press-fit foam lining inside the aluminum
cell. Thumbscrews should ONLY be used to keep the filter
securely in place once a friction fit has been achieved.
Pinholes and Filter Safety
Despite the thin, flexible nature of the Orion Deluxe Safety
Film Solar filter material, it is actually a high-strength polymer
that stands up to considerable abuse. The coating on the
polymer cannot easily be rubbed off. It is applied on both
sides of the film. Since it is nearly impossible for any manu-
facturer to produce a filter coating that is completely pinhole-
free, a few pinholes may be found. Even if you find a pinhole
on one side of the filter, however, it is likely that the other side
is still coated, providing sufficient protection. However, if you
find a pinhole bigger than 0.5mm diameter that goes com-
pletely through the filter, do not use it. Call Orion technical
support for advice on returning or replacing the filter.
Check the filter’s optical surfaces for any possible damage
before each use. The view through your telescope should be
comfortable and not appear excessively bright. Stop looking
immediately if the view is excessively bright.
Note that rippling or warping in the film material is normal
with Safety Film Solar filters and does not have any effect on
the image you will see or on the filter’s safety.
Using the Solar Filter
Make sure the filter fits securely onto the front opening of the
telescope. If it feels loose or comes off easily, DO NOT use it!
Call Orion customer service to see about getting a replace-
ment.
Keep the front of any finder scope covered with its opaque
objective cap or a couple layers of aluminum foil, if it is not
equipped with its own solar filter. Better yet, remove the find-
er altogether when observing the Sun. An uncovered finder
scope is dangerous to look through. Even if you do not look
through it, however, unfiltered sunlight could melt internal
parts of a finder scope.
To aim the telescope with solar filter installed at the Sun with-
out aid of a finder scope equipped with a solar filter, you can
use the shadow cast by the telescope as a guide. Point your
telescope in the general direction of the Sun, and watch the
shadow cast by the telescope tube on the ground. Move the
tube gradually back and forth, up and down until the shadow
is the smallest it will get. The Sun should then be visible in the
eyepiece field of view.
WARNING!
DO NOT LOOK AT THE SUN through any optical
instrument without a professionally made solar filter
such as this one covering the front of the instrument, or
permanent eye damage could result!
• Do not use this filter if it shows any sign of physical
damage!
• Make sure filter FITS SNUGLY on the instrument.
• Be sure also to cover any finder scope attached to the
main instrument.
• Children should use only with adult supervision.
• Keep instrument covered if left outdoors in daylight,
unattended.

2
WARNING about Truss Tube Dobsonians:
When using a truss tube Dobsonian telescope for
solar observing, always use a light shroud and a
properly sized solar filter. When you install the light
shroud make certain there are no gaps between
the shroud and the telescope where direct sunlight
can reach the telescope mirror. When a truss tube
telescope (equipped with a solar filter but no
shroud) is pointing near the Sun, direct sunlight
can hit the mirror and focus on the solar filter or
other portions of the telescope. This can lead to
eye injury or heat damage to the telescope. Using a
light shroud protects your telescope from peripheral
sunlight. Always install protective caps on all optical
instruments if left out during daylight hours.
Allow the telescope and filter to equalize to the outside tem-
perature for at least 15 minutes. Direct sunlight may warm
the tube assembly enough to cause internal heat currents
that can degrade image quality, especially on dark-colored
telescopes. You might want to cover the tube assembly with
a light-colored cloth to help avoid this.
If possible, do not view over pavement or buildings, which
radiate heat. Those rising “heat waves” will reduce the
sharpness of the images you see through the telescope.
Viewing over grass will help avoid surface heat currents.
Removing the Solar Filter
Point the telescope away from the Sun before removing the
solar filter! Removing the filter while the telescope is aimed at
the Sun is dangerous if anyone is looking into the eyepiece,
and can damage the telescope if left pointed at the Sun for
too long.
Solar Photography
Orion Safety Film Solar filters can be used for viewing and for
photography. By attaching a camera body to a telescope, in
effect using the scope as a telephoto lens, you can take strik-
ing photographs of the Sun. Only attempt this if the telescope
is equipped with the proper solar filter.
Depending on the aperture and focal length of your tele-
scope and “seeing” conditions, you will need to experiment
to find the best exposure time for your equipment. Do not
be discouraged if your first attempts at solar imaging are
less than “stellar.” The Sun is very difficult to image because
of poorer “seeing” conditions caused by unavoidable heat
currents associated with daytime viewing. The highest pos-
sible resolution for any land-based telescope, regardless of
location, is about 1 arc second. Ideal seeing for any location
will be available less than 5% of the time. It may be some
consolation to consider that your results could equal those at
professional observatories, as larger apertures and location
have little, if any, advantage. During bad seeing conditions,
it may help to “stop down” apertures over 5" with an off-axis
mask.
Cleaning AstroSolar Film
We recommend storing the solar filter in the flat box it came
in for protection, or in a “Tupperware” type of plastic con-
tainer of the proper size.
Occasionally, the filter may require cleaning after extended
exposure to the elements. If the dust is loose, you may be
able to blow it off with compressed air or a blower bulb of
the type that photographers use. Since the coating is harder
than regular aluminum coatings applied on mirror surfaces,
it can be cleaned with a solution of dishwater detergent and
distilled water. Use sterilized cotton wool (as used for eye
application), available in pharmacies. Normal cotton balls as
used for cosmetic purposes should NOT be used!
Use careful, gentle strokes. For each stroke, a new portion of
cotton is to be used, soaked with the cleaning solution. This
helps to avoid scratches in the filter’s coatings due to dust
grains picked up by the cotton.
*Baader AstroSolar is a trademark of Baader Planetarium GmbH.
One-Year Limited Warranty
This Orion product is warranted against defects in materials or workmanship for a period of one year
from the date of purchase. This warranty is for the benefit of the original retail purchaser only. During
this warranty period Orion Telescopes & Binoculars will repair or replace, at Orion’s option, any war-
ranted instrument that proves to be defective, provided it is returned postage paid. Proof of purchase
(such as a copy of the original receipt) is required. This warranty is only valid in the country of pur-
chase.
This warranty does not apply if, in Orion’s judgment, the instrument has been abused, mishandled, or
modified, nor does it apply to normal wear and tear. This warranty gives you specific legal rights. It is
not intended to remove or restrict your other legal rights under applicable local consumer law; your
state or national statutory consumer rights governing the sale of consumer goods remain fully appli-
cable.
For further warranty information, please visit www.OrionTelescopes.com/warranty.
Orion Telescopes & Binoculars
Corporate Offices: 89 Hangar Way, Watsonville CA 95076 - USA
Customer Support: www.OrionTelescopes.com/contactus
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