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Observe The Sun Safely - Never look at the Sun without a filter!
To observe the sun with your telescope you will need an appropriate solar filter fitted for your telescope. Most telescopes have the option of purchasing a matching solar filter special designed to fit the telescope. With a solar filter you can see detail in sunspots, bright faculae near the limb and the mottled areas known as granules with these filters. The sun offers constant changes and will keep your observing interesting and fun. Even small aperture telescopes can enjoy features of the sun.
We strongly recommend only using a solar filter that covers the objective of the telescope. These are called Full Aperture Solar Filters. Some telescopes come with a "Solar Filter" that screws into the eyepiece. These filters are very unsafe and should be avoided.
Don't Forget About the Finderscope!
Locating the sun with a Solar Filter can be difficult. Never use the finderscope to locate the sun. It is best to remove or cover the finderscope so you will have no accidents. A neighbor or friend walking by may not understand the care needed to observe the sun and may peek into the wrong scope!
Locate the sun first by moving the telescope to the general area of the sun by hand. Then watch the shadow that the telescope itself gives off on the ground. When the shadow is shortest, you will be very close to the sun. It is also a good idea to use a very low powered eyepiece to first observe. This will give you the largest field of view and make locating the sun much easier.
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