Solar Telescopes

Solar telescopes and solar viewing kits let you observe the Sun safely by filtering out harmful wavelengths and cutting the Sun's brightness to reveal sunspots, surface texture and other detail. Always pair the Sun with purpose-built solar filtering, never an unfiltered scope.

Two Explore FirstLight kits come with a Solarlite solar filter: the 80mm carbon-fiber refractor on the Sidara Nano alt-azimuth mount, and the same telescope on the iEXOS-100 GoTo tracker. Explore Scientific says the film is the same material as its eclipse glasses, which are rated to ISO 12312-2. Eight Explore Scientific Sidara telescope packages also come with a solar filter, a cap that fits over the front of the tube; follow the directions printed on it before you observe the Sun. For a scope you already own, the Sun Catcher variable solar filter comes in sizes from small refractors up to 14-inch Schmidt-Cassegrains. Match the filter to your optic so it fits securely over the front of the tube, as the American Astronomical Society advises.