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Sunspotter — The Safer Solar Telescope A Sky and Telescope Hot Pick for 2001. This wooden, folded-path, Keplerian telescope provides a much safer and convenient way to view the brilliant light of the sun than other more common methods. By using a series of mirrors, the device projects a bright 3.25-inch solar image onto a 5-inch white viewing screen through a powerful 62mm diameter objective lens. In its perfectly curved cradle, the Sunspotter is easily aligned to the sun in seconds, without the complication of telescopes, solar filters, and tripods. Unlike other ways of viewing the sun, the compact and sturdy Sunspotter is convenient, easy to set up, lightweight and fun to use. And, because of its unique design, this kid-friendly instrument makes our closest star a safer subject of study by even the youngest students. Use the Sunspotter for viewing the sun, eclipses, transits, and for daily record keeping. Track sunspots as they appear, move, and vanish. Useful for group viewing, the Sunspotter allows several observers to simultaneously see the sun’s disk and quickly trace the changing positions of sunpots and compare them on a daily basis.
Download a free Sunspotter Observation Record form created by Robert Hollow, Education Officer at the Australia Telescope National Facility. It's ideal for students to track the sunspots using the Sunspotter.
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Sunspotter Specifications
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| Comments About the Sunspotter | |||
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— Alan Gould, Lawrence Hall of Science, University of California, Berkeley
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An instrument that is really unique and brilliant, with an attractive design that is truly a work of art. The finished wood mounting is highly functional yet graceful and elegant enough to put on the coffee table in the living room. When I received my first one, I found that it was extremely easy to use. Its simplicity and beauty was way beyond my expectations! Lawrence Hall of Science at University of California now has six Sunspotters in service for use by students in our astronomy classes and camps. | ||
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— Richard Tresch Fienberg, Editor in Chief, Sky & Telescope
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A delightful way to share the sun with relatives, friends, neighbors, and students. Rest assured I’ll put my Sunspotter to good use. | ||
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— Dr. Douglas Duncan, Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics, University of Chicago
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I think this device is terrific, and I expect to order a lot of them. | ||
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— Dr. Neil de Grasse Tyson, Astrophysicist and Director, Hayden Planetarium, American Museum of Natural History
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I imagine that it’s one of the few tabletop experiments about which, 200 years from now, they will say, "That’s back when they made clever, quality instruments." | ||
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— Jim Manning, Taylor Planetarium, Museum of the Rockies, Montana and Associate Editor, The Planetarian
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It’s a clever device, an easy and extremely portable way to view the sun . . .it’s a great way to demonstrate (just as Galileo found out) that the sun rotates (and let the kids confirm the rate), that sunspots change, and that the number of sunspots changes over the solar cycle. I’m sold on them. | ||
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— Jeffrey Lockwood, Director, Astrobiology Curriculum Project, TERC and retired high school astronomy teacher
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It’s an amazing little unit. It really gives sharp, clear images of the sun. | ||
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