Celestia Forums

I want to buy a Mylar film to make a sun filter. I asked in an astronomy store and they said that they have black polymer, and thats this is better than Mylar.... can anyone tell me what it is?

ElPelado,

may you should ask for "Baader Astro Solar™ Safety Film".

More informations (in English):
http://www.baader-planetarium.com/sofifolie/details_e.htm

I think, it is the best and healthy you can get...

Adirondack

I know mylar is good and is cheap, but i want to know what black polymer is...

ElPelado,

"Baader Astro Solar™ Safety Film" is not a mylar film nor a black polymer!
It's something else but much better for visual and photographical use!

Quality sequence: Mylar -> Black polymer -> Baader Astro Solar Film

To answer your question:
Black Polymer: A lower cost alternative where only low magnification is used such as with binoculars, threaded camera filters and finder scopes. Stronger than Mylar with the filtering properties protected within the substrate.

It cant be used with a 3" telescopes using 35x or 56x??

Any of the films can be used for your 3" telescope!
But the Baader film privides a better result.
No false colours, better contrast and so on.
That's all.

And its more expensive.... right?

It's about 20 EUR / US$.

What do you want?
A golden ring for 1 buck?

Or want to go blind and spare 20 Euros?

Ok, I'll see what I can do...
And I think I will try to buy the black polymer or the baader...
Thanks

ElPelado,

where do you come from? Spain?
Maybe we can meet each other on October, 3rd 2005 near
Alicante to watch the solar eclipse...

... and you can have a look through my telescope with the Baader film.

Or are you still in Argentina?

Not argentina nither Spain, and i want the filter for the transit...