FAQ

Spectrum Telescope manufactures durable, high quality solar filters that are the safest on the market for viewing the sun. These white light solar filters prevent damage to your equipment or your eyes as you view granulating, sun spots, or a solar eclipse. They fit cameras, small reflectors, spotting scopes, telescopes and view finders as well as binoculars. We have been building and developing safe solar filters for over 20 years. We will soon be adding telescope accessories to our line of products and we are constantly developing new products that will be introduced soon. Each member of Spectrum Telescope’s team are customer oriented and work hard to establish a bond with each one.

Are the glass and film solar filters safe? Yes, all of our filters are safe, blocking up to 99.999% of the sun’s rays, perfect for unlimited visual use as well as photography. These filters are rated with a neutral density of 5. With proper care and handling, our filters will last for many years. Spectrum Telescope ISO Certified 12312-2 while meeting or exceeding International Standards for safety.

Approved by American Astronomical Society as reputable vendor for safe solar filters.

Amazon has also approved Spectrum Telescope: If you supply products for sale on Amazon, you must comply with all federal, state, and local laws and Amazon policies applicable to those products and product listings. As part of our ongoing efforts to provide the best possible customer experience, Amazon has implemented safety requirements for all filters for solar viewing offered on the site.

There is some confusing information and articles out there about solar viewing. To clarify, ISO and CE Certification for Solar Filters does not exist. Any company or article providing information that there is a Certification process for Solar Filters is providing false information. Companies that are claiming they have ISO Certification on their Solar Filters are not being honest. There is a standard established by ISO, but no body to certify filters yet. Spectrum Telescope Solar Filters have been sent to an Independent Laboratory which have documented that these two products are safe for viewing and photographing the sun and meet the requirements for ISO 12312-2. A NASA and Observatories all over the world have purchased Spectrum Telescope Filters for over two decades.

ALL FILTERS HAVE PINHOLES: You can make up to twenty touch-ups for each inch of the clear aperture without having any adverse effects on the filter’s performance and/or safety. You can block the pinholes with either a tiny small spec of paint, a marker with a fine tip, or even correction fluid without worry about diminishing the filter’s optical performance. It is common for glass solar filters to have pinholes and/or scratches.

What can I expect to see using these filters? You can expect to see a solar eclipse, sunspots, and surface granulation.

Do the telescope optics become heated or can they be damaged? While sunlight may warm your telescope, before heat or intense light can enter the telescope, they are blocked. The light that transmits through the filter is very little and will not damage or heat your telescope. Reading the instructions that come with each of our products will ensure that you’re using them safely and as intended which will prevent damage.

What is your thin film made from? The market is filled with several different types of thin films today that are used for solar viewing. They are made from a polyester film like Baader, Black Polymer, Mylar, and others. The thin film we use is a black plastic polymer that is .002” thick and comes with a ND (neutral density) of 5 making it perfectly safe to view solar activity. When you view the sun, you’ll see a sharp image of natural orange instead of the blue or white like other brands.

What is the difference between Chromium Polymer film and black polymer film? Chromium is good for up to 100x magnification then black polymer. Therefore we can make full aperture large solar filters with a sharp pleasing image.

Is there a difference between and off axis solar filter and a full aperture? Light is blocked with an off axis solar filter into the telescope and allow the light only into a small portion of off centered glass. With the aperture reduced, visibility of atmospheric turbulence during the day is reduced as well. Whereas most of the light is let into the telescope with a full aperture filters because your telescope is allowed the full aperture for viewing. By doing so, the best daytime viewing is possible if there is very little to no atmospheric turbulence. When turbulence is present, you can place a mask over the end of the filter and reduce the aperture effectively. By using a mask, you can change the aperture range effectively to anything that is less than a full aperture based on mask size.

Our EXCHANGE Policy Spectrum Telescope Products offers a 30 DAY EXCHANGE GUARANTEE when the following instructions are followed: All of our products are new product and are shipped in good condition in packaging intended for them to arrive in good condition. You can return any of our products within 30 days and receive a EXCHANGE if the instructions have been followed. Customers may have to pay shipping costs to Exchange any product. Product must be exchanged in original packing and packaged the same way it was received. Your return address must be clearly marked on your package. Return orders to the following address:

Spectrum Telescope

The following information must be included with all returns:

Your Name
Your Complete Address
Phone Number
Reason for Exchange

You Purchase price may be refunded upon our receiving the package with the refund amount being credited back to your credit card, PayPal, or a business check will be mailed a restocking fee may be applied.

Info@SpectrumTelescope.com

Phone # (805) 388-5538