AstroMedia Solar Projector Manual - Página 5

Navegue en línea o descargue pdf Manual para Proyector AstroMedia Solar Projector. AstroMedia Solar Projector 6 páginas. Cardboard kit for a projector that allows for safe observation of the sun

Imprimir página

with highly reﬂective paper or a grid

template, if necessary (see notes below).

Lay the projection surface with the ﬂaps

downward into the bottom of the housing,

so that it touches the front wall and the

two ﬂaps ﬁt snugly into the corner of the

housing curvature.

Step 28: Remove the protective foil from

the plane mirror. It might be necessary to

slightly lift a corner with a knife.

Now the Solar Projector is complete.

Chapter D

The Base

In order to adjust the altitude of the Solar

Projector between the horizon and the

zenith, the base has a curved surface

which holds the rounded back of the

housing. This simple but efﬁcient way of

ﬁtting the projector is known as a

Dobsonian mount, after its inventor, and is

often used for astronomical telescopes.

Step 29: Fold the ﬂaps of the trapezium

shaped left outer side [D1] backwards and

the many small ﬂaps of the left inner side

[D2] forwards. The top edge of the outer

How to use your Solar Projector:

1. Place the objective in the objective guide and put the cassette in the slipcase.

2. Place the Solar Projector in the Dobsonian base and put it up to the Sun so that the little bright point from the objective hits the

convex mirror, somewhat above its centre.

3. Put the objective in focus by pushing it forwards or backwards so that a clear image of the Sun appears on the projection surface.

4. The Sun moves, so the image of the Sun will also move. Rotate and tip the projector so that the image is once again easy to see.

The focussing of the objective will only need to be changed when you swap the convex mirrors.

5. Important: Do not leave the Solar Projector unmonitored with the objective in the direction of the Sun. The focussed light from the

Sun could move away from the mirror and burn a hole into the cardboard.

Frequently asked questions:

1. Why doesnʼt the Solar Projector need a solar ﬁlter? Looking directly at the Sun, whether with or without a telescope should

always be done with a solar ﬁlter. But with the Solar Projector you are not looking at the Sun, but at a projected image. This image

is no more dangerous than a piece of paper with the Sun shining on it.

2. What can I observe with the Solar Projector? Most importantly sun spots, but also solar eclipses and planet transits. Under

good conditions it is even possible to observe the landscape.

3. Are there always sun spots visible? The number of sun spots changes during a cycle of approximately 11 years. The last

minimum was in 2009, the next maximum is expected in 2013. When near a minimum, sun spots are only visible with a very

powerful telescope (with solar ﬁlter). You can ﬁnd more information about sun spots on the internet at www.wikipedia.org.

4. Can sun spots change in size and position? Yes, sun spots (which often consist of groups of smaller spots), grow and shrink,

and move over days from left to right over the solar surface. The reason for this is the rotation of the solar sphere around its own

axis (the rotation period is 25 days on the solar equator, 35-40 days at the poles). If you follow the position of a regular round spot

near the centre of the solar disk over a few days it will get ever thinner because of perspective distortion.

5. How often can I see solar eclipses?

Approximately twice a year somewhere on Earth, but usually only in very speciﬁc, and often very inaccessible places. Lists of

solar eclipses can be found on Wikipedia as well.

6. What is a planetary transit?

The orbits of Mercury and Venus around the Sun are within the orbit of the Earth. Therefore occasionally Mercury or Venus are

exactly between the Earth the Sun, so that for a short time they move past the solar disk. Such a planetary transit is a rare

occasion, because the orbits of the planets donʼt lie in the exact same plane.

side is exactly as long as the straight

edge of the inner side. Glue the inner side

and the outer side back to back (with the

printed sides outwards) so that these two

equal edges are ﬂush.

Step 30: Do the same with the right outer

side [D3] and right inner side [D4].

Step 31: Fold the two ﬂaps of the curved

surface [D5] backwards and gently curve

the surface by holding one of the ﬂaps

and dragging the part over a straight table

edge or similar, with the printed side

facing downwards: the printed side should

be the inside of the curvature. It should be

curved enough to ﬁt approximately the

line of the ﬂaps of the inner sides [D2] and

[D4].

Step 32: Take one of the two outer sides,

with the glued-on inner side and apply

glue to the printed side of the small ﬂaps.

Lay the outer side face-down on your

work surface, stand the curved surface

[D5] on the inner side and stick the ﬂaps

to the back of the curved surface. Take

care that the ends of the curved surface

do not stick out beyond the ends of the

inner side. Stick the other inner side on

the other edge of the curved surface in

the same way.

Step 33: Fold all the ﬂaps of the base

plate [D6] backwards and place it, printed

side downwards, on your work surface.

Stick ﬁrst one, and then the other ﬂap to

the back of the two side pieces that are

joined by the curved surface. It is best to

do this as follows: Put glue on one of the

two ﬂaps and place the curved surface

with the side pieces onto the base plate,

so that the side pieces line up with the two

ﬂaps. To glue it in place it you can push

against the pieces on the outside with

your hand and on the inside with a pencil

or similar. Glue the second ﬂap in the

same way.

Step 34: Finally, you need to glue the

front side [D7] and the rear side [D8] of

the base onto the ﬂaps of the two

remaining openings. Lay the base on a

ﬂat surface for this and ensure that the

base plate stays square against all the

edges while glueing.

Congratulations! Now youʼve put it

all together and you are ready for

your "First Light", as astronomers

call the time of the ﬁrst observation

with a new piece of equipment. We

wish you many interesting hours

with your self-built Solar Projector!