Kit "Solar Projector" AstroMedia

Kit AstroMedia for building the "Solar Projector".

Pre-cut cardboard kit for a projection device for safe observation of the sun.

This handy device allows several people at the same time to observe sunspots, planetary transits and eclipses comfortably and completely without danger. The view falls only on a projected image of the sun thanks to a sophisticated optic, therefore no solar filter is needed.

The principle

The solar projector uses the principle of the camera obscura ("pinhole camera"), with which solar eclipses were observed as early as the 11th century and which is still used today in every camera: Light falls through a small opening into a darkened chamber and creates an upside-down image of the outside world on the opposite side. Instead of a simple aperture, the solar projector has a lens and a convex mirror that together act like a galilean telescope and provide high magnification, and a plane mirror redirects the image into a comfortable viewing position.

The optics

The optics consist of a double-lens glass achromat with a diameter of 30 mm and a focal length of 250 mm, which can be stopped down to 12 mm in five steps, an interchangeable optics with 2 convex mirrors with focal lengths of -10 and -14 mm respectively, and a plane mirror made of acrylic glass.

Simple handling

The solar projector is very easy to use: It sits on a Dobsonian base and can be adjusted to any altitude between 0° and 90°. Two integrated quadrants make it possible to determine the altitude of the sun. The size of the solar image is either 75 or 55 mm and can be viewed comfortably at 90° to the incident sunlight - very practical when the sun is high in the sky!

Dettagli prodotto:

• pre-cut and printed construction cardboard
• for assembly
• 8 x DIN A4
• with detailed building instructions
• included accessories: various mirrors and achromatic objective lens
• dimensions of the assembled item approx. 18.5 x 26.5 x 25 cm