<p>I don't know very much about telescopes; I used one a few times as a kid, but that's about it. I understand the general design &amp; use of reflectors &amp; refractors, but I don't know enough to decipher focal length, etc. So, I don't feel comfortable trying to DIY my own contraption, that won't be nearly as good, assuming it works at all.</p>

<p>I'm looking to buy a minor telescope (a few hundred dollars [US] or less) to view the American Total Solar eclipse on Aug. 21, 2017; and possibly reuse for the Mercury transit in 2019. I'm a decently well off computer programmer, so blowing $200 (&amp; some gas to drive up-state) for a one off just to experience the Solar eclipse is worth it to me, even if I don't use it again.</p>

<p>I spent a few hours wandering around the internet for something, and I found a few styles of "Projection Screens/Scopes" that are really cool, but I can't find anywhere to buy them. The first is an image that several websites used as their article's banner image, but none say what it is or where to get it.</p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/Phtcf.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/Phtcf.jpg" alt="Solar Telescope Projection Screen"></a></p>

<p>I found another one, where a guy hacked together a projector scope from an old 8mm film projector.</p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/DzWVN.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/DzWVN.jpg" alt="8mm projector scope"></a></p>

<p>I've found many DIY tutorials to roll-your-own out of dixie cups &amp; Pringles cans, but as I said before: I'd rather not waste my time fumbling with that, since I'd probably screw it up; I'd rather pay money to get one that's good quality &amp; done right.</p>

<p>I've wanted to buy a big light bucket for years now, so I can start looking at nebulae &amp; planets, but never got around to it; mostly because I'm not sure what to buy. I've been looking at the "Orion SkyQuest XX14i Dobsonian" for a while, but never pulled the trigger. Given that the eclipse is only 3 weeks away, I figured something smaller would be a faster choice in the short term.</p>

<p>I found the "Celestron EclipSmart 50 50mm f/7.2 Alt-Az Solar Telescope" that comes with a backpack storage bag, for \$100. It has a built-in (i.e. non-removable) solar filter, &amp; a collapsible tripod. But that seems pretty cheap; is \$100 for a telescope like that normal, or is that a poor quality trap for laymen like me?</p>

<p>Do yall have any advice on something to get for the solar eclipse? And is there anywhere to get a professionally made projector screen like that, so I can watch the multi-hour process from a chair rather than bending over for 2 hours? (p.s. I'm 6 foot 3 inches tall) Also, if possible, being able to record video of it on my Samsung Galaxy S6 would be cool, but not required if that's a big deal.</p>

<p>Thanks for your help,</p>

<p>-Yurelle</p>

<telescope><amateur-observing><photography><solar-eclipse>
Solar Telescope Projector Screen? [& intro telescope for solar eclipse]
Yurelle
# Solar Telescope Projector Screen? [& intro telescope for solar eclipse]

(Asked by: username_0 on 2017-08-01)

I don't know very much about telescopes; I used one a few times as a kid, but that's about it. I understand the general design & use of reflectors & refractors, but I don't know enough to decipher focal length, etc. So, I don't feel comfortable trying to DIY my own contraption, that won't be nearly as good, assuming it works at all.

I'm looking to buy a minor telescope (a few hundred dollars [US] or less) to view the American Total Solar eclipse on Aug. 21, 2017; and possibly reuse for the Mercury transit in 2019. I'm a decently well off computer programmer, so blowing $200 (& some gas to drive up-state) for a one off just to experience the Solar eclipse is worth it to me, even if I don't use it again.

I spent a few hours wandering around the internet for something, and I found a few styles of "Projection Screens/Scopes" that are really cool, but I can't find anywhere to buy them. The first is an image that several websites used as their article's banner image, but none say what it is or where to get it.

[![Solar Telescope Projection Screen](https://i.sstatic.net/Phtcf.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/Phtcf.jpg)

I found another one, where a guy hacked together a projector scope from an old 8mm film projector.

[![8mm projector scope](https://i.sstatic.net/DzWVN.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/DzWVN.jpg)

I've found many DIY tutorials to roll-your-own out of dixie cups & Pringles cans, but as I said before: I'd rather not waste my time fumbling with that, since I'd probably screw it up; I'd rather pay money to get one that's good quality & done right.

I've wanted to buy a big light bucket for years now, so I can start looking at nebulae & planets, but never got around to it; mostly because I'm not sure what to buy. I've been looking at the "Orion SkyQuest XX14i Dobsonian" for a while, but never pulled the trigger. Given that the eclipse is only 3 weeks away, I figured something smaller would be a faster choice in the short term.

I found the "Celestron EclipSmart 50 50mm f/7.2 Alt-Az Solar Telescope" that comes with a backpack storage bag, for \$100. It has a built-in (i.e. non-removable) solar filter, & a collapsible tripod. But that seems pretty cheap; is \$100 for a telescope like that normal, or is that a poor quality trap for laymen like me?

Do yall have any advice on something to get for the solar eclipse? And is there anywhere to get a professionally made projector screen like that, so I can watch the multi-hour process from a chair rather than bending over for 2 hours? (p.s. I'm 6 foot 3 inches tall) Also, if possible, being able to record video of it on my Samsung Galaxy S6 would be cool, but not required if that's a big deal.

Thanks for your help,

-username_0

**Tags:** telescope, amateur-observing, photography, solar-eclipse


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## 0 answers

