Solar Filters for telescopes, binoculars, and cameras are important for two reasons: to protect equipment from intense sunlight and to ensure that you don’t accidentally look at the Sun through an unfiltered instrument. This week on the Sky-Watcher USA What’s Up? Webcast, the Sky-Watcher team discusses the best ways to observe Mars, including what are the equipment options to do so.
The What’s Up? is a live webcast held every Friday from 10am to 11am Pacific on the Sky-Watcher USA YouTube channel. Each week they discuss new astronomical topic including gear, visual and imaging techniques, interviews and more.
During the webcast Sky-Watcher USA team will discuss using solar filters which typically come in three types: metal on glass (usually the most durable and expensive), aluminized polyester film (frequently referred to as aluminized Mylar), and black polymer (sometimes with a layer of aluminized polyester on one side). Some render the Sun white, while others impart a yellow, orange, or bluish tint.
What’s Up? webcasts are free by tuning into the Sky-Watcher USA YouTube channel. Can’t watch it live? That’s OK, all webcasts can be watched whenever you like by visiting the YouTube channel.
For example, as part of the library of previous What’s Up? Webcasts you will find an episode where they sat down with master optician Michael Lockwood of Lockwood Custom Optics to talk about telescope optics and just how far they can be taken Mike started the company in 2006 to supply quality optics to amateur and professional astronomers, telescope builders, scientists, researchers, and industry. He can provide mirrors up to ~32″ in diameter from high-quality, precision annealed, monolithic borosilicate glass up to 2.1″ in thickness can produce slightly thinner borosilicate mirrors up to just over 40″ in diameter.
So if you are stuck at home looking for something to do or want to learn more about the latest in astronomy equipment, techniques and more then check the What’s Up? webcasts.
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