The Sunspotter is a simple refractor telescope specially designed for observing the Sun. It is one of the safest ways to observe the partial and annular phases of all types of solar eclipses.

Fig (1)

Observing the Sun with a Sunspotter

Fig (2)

The optical layout of the Sunspotter

Sunspotter_fig2.gif

Observing the Sun with a Sunspotter is a great fun! It is portable, sturdy, very easy to set up, and easy to use.

A Sunspotter is the ideal choice for a teacher who gives observing sessions to young pupils. The children themselves can use the Sunspotter to safely observe the Sun (under teachers' supervision).

Through a combination of lenses and plain mirrors, the Sunspotter projects a magnified, good-quality image of the Sun, about 8cm across, on to a white screen.

The image is safe to view and is big and sharp enough to see good detail on the surface of the Sun.

The telescope moves in a curved cradle that makes pointing the telescope very easy.

With your back to the Sun, you can aim the Sunspotter to the Sun using the aiming points; when the projected images of the Sun through the pinholes (see fig (2)) are projected on to the aiming points, the solar image will appear on the white screen. You don't have to look at the Sun!

The Sunspotter can be used to observe other solar phenomena such as the transits of Venus, the transits of Mercury, sunspots, and the rotation of the Sun.