io9
No, these photographs weren't taken by an astrophysicist or whipped up in a special-effects lab. Photographer Larry Alvarez takes these pictures of the sun in his backyard using a camera, a telescope, and some homemade gear. With some tips from Alvarez, you can build your own solar telescope camera, too.
To get good images of the sun, you have to "take the law into your own hands," Alvarez writes. His site includes instructions on how to build a build a white light filter system out of cardboard and filter material, or a slightly fancier version made of plywood, glue and velcro. He also teaches how to convert your Coronado 60mm, 70mm or 90mm MaxScope telescope into a focuser for solar images. I love his workbench with the Rubik's cube next to his hacked telescope and camera equipment.
Flower Mound Observatory [Photographer's Website]
Comments
That's really cool. I should learn how to do this. His how-to section is offline though.
truly awesome, better than most "professional" shots i've seen.
Yes, Amazing shots. I hope he works on his website a little though. None of the videos worked for me
Wow! These look like screenshots of Sunshine .
How crazy would it be if you had a son with a dog named spot who could spot spots on sun spots while wearing specially designed sun spot spot spotting spats?
Fairly crazy I think.
@strider_mt2k: Telegram for Strider.
Son: stop. Stop. stop. Spotting sun spotters has to stop. stop. Stop spotting sun spotters, son. stop.
I spit on sun spotters.
They spoiled the spelunking in Spain!
These would make for some awesome desktop backgrounds
Wow, those pictures are quite stunning!
@SinisterRouge:
That's what I thought too!
Yes, the projects section appears to be down. Direct links to the filter instructions still work though:
[mysite.verizon.net]
and for a pro version
[mysite.verizon.net]
Sorry, that first link above should have been
[mysite.verizon.net]
Amazing that this was done at home. I wonder how much damage happens to your eyes when you are getting something like this to work.
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