{"product_id":"daystar-universal-solar-finder","title":"Daystar Universal Solar Finder","description":"\u003cul class=\"DAV-feature-list\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSafe, no-look solar alignment\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eProjects a harmless dot of light onto a target screen\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDual mounting system fits most telescopes\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIncludes both a dovetail base and a bungee cord\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEssential for quick and easy solar observing sessions\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c!-- more --\u003e\n\u003cul class=\"tabs\"\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"active\"\u003eDescription\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFAQ\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIn the Box\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDownloads\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWarranty\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cul class=\"tabs-content\"\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"active\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"DAV-bg-light\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"DAV-section-center\"\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eUniversal Solar Finder\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Daystar Universal Solar Finder provides a safe and intuitive method for centering the Sun in your telescope's field of view. It works by projecting a small dot of light onto a rear target, completely eliminating the danger and difficulty of aligning your instrument by eye. This simple device ensures you can start observing quickly and safely, whether you're using a dedicated solar telescope or a standard telescope equipped with a full-aperture solar filter.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"DAV-bg-light\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"DAV-section\"\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eUniversal Solar Finder: Align on the Sun Safely and Without Looking\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eProperly and safely aligning your telescope on the Sun can be a challenge. The Universal Solar Finder solves this problem with an elegant, projection-based system. A small aperture on the front of the finder casts a bright dot onto a white target screen at the back. To align your telescope, you simply adjust its position until the dot is centered on the target's crosshairs. This method is fast, precise, and ensures you never have to look directly at or near the Sun.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"DAV-bg-light\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"DAV-section\"\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eUniversal Solar Finder: Mounts via Dovetail or Bungee Cord\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDesigned for maximum compatibility, this finder includes two distinct mounting options. For telescopes equipped with a standard finder shoe, the included small dovetail base allows for a secure, conventional attachment. For optical tubes without a finder base, such as many refractors or custom builds, the included bungee cord wraps around the telescope tube for a firm, non-permanent installation. This dual system means you can easily use the finder across multiple instruments in your collection.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"DAV-bg-light\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"DAV-section\"\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eUniversal Solar Finder: Critical Safety Protocol\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSolar observing requires uncompromising attention to safety. It is critical to understand that the Universal Solar Finder is an alignment tool, \u003cstrong\u003enot a solar filter\u003c\/strong\u003e. You must never look at the Sun through the finder's aperture hole or without a dedicated, professionally-made solar filter installed over the front of your main telescope. Looking at the Sun without proper protection will cause immediate and permanent eye damage.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNot a Filter:\u003c\/strong\u003e This device does not block any harmful radiation and is for pointing purposes only.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eRequires Main Filter:\u003c\/strong\u003e Always use this finder in conjunction with a full-aperture solar filter on your telescope's objective or a dedicated solar instrument like a DayStar Quark.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNever Look at the Sun:\u003c\/strong\u003e Do not look directly at the Sun with the naked eye or any unfiltered optical device.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"DAV-accordion\"\u003e\n\u003ch3 class=\"DAV-accordion-Q\"\u003eHow does the Universal Solar Finder work?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"DAV-accordion-A\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Universal Solar Finder has a small hole in the front that allows a tiny, harmless beam of sunlight to pass through. This beam projects a bright dot onto a white target screen at the rear of the finder. You align your telescope by moving it until this dot is perfectly centered on the crosshairs of the target, all without ever looking at the Sun itself.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"DAV-accordion\"\u003e\n\u003ch3 class=\"DAV-accordion-Q\"\u003eWill the Universal Solar Finder fit my specific telescope?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"DAV-accordion-A\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe finder is designed to be as universal as possible. It includes a standard dovetail base that fits many common finder shoes, and a bungee cord for telescopes that lack a finder shoe. However, there is a wide variety of dovetail sizes on the market, so a perfect fit is not guaranteed in all cases. In some instances, the thumbscrew on the telescope's finder base may be too short and require a longer screw from a hardware store.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"DAV-accordion\"\u003e\n\u003ch3 class=\"DAV-accordion-Q\"\u003eCan I use the Universal Solar Finder by itself to look at the Sun?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"DAV-accordion-A\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAbsolutely not.\u003c\/strong\u003e The Universal Solar Finder is a pointing device only and offers no protection for your eyes. It is not a solar filter. Looking through its front aperture or at the Sun without a certified solar filter covering the main objective of your telescope will cause severe and permanent eye damage.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"DAV-accordion\"\u003e\n\u003ch3 class=\"DAV-accordion-Q\"\u003eWhat do I do if the thumbscrew on my finder base is too short for the Universal Solar Finder?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"DAV-accordion-A\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf the existing thumbscrew on your telescope's finder shoe doesn't reach far enough to securely hold the finder's dovetail base, you can typically find a longer replacement screw of the same thread type at a local hardware store. This is a common and easy fix for ensuring a secure fit.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"DAV-accordion\"\u003e\n\u003ch3 class=\"DAV-accordion-Q\"\u003eHow do I attach the Universal Solar Finder to my refractor that has no finder shoe?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"DAV-accordion-A\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor telescopes like refractors or Maksutovs that often do not have a built-in finder shoe, you can use the included bungee cord. The cord and clamp are designed to wrap around the main optical tube, holding the solar finder securely in place for your observing session.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"DAV-accordion\"\u003e\n\u003ch3 class=\"DAV-accordion-Q\"\u003eIs the Universal Solar Finder a good accessory for my DayStar Quark filter?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"DAV-accordion-A\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes, it is an essential accessory. Since the DayStar Quark provides a very narrow, high-magnification view, finding and centering the Sun can be difficult. The Universal Solar Finder makes this initial alignment step fast and simple, allowing you to get to observing prominences and surface detail much more quickly.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ctable class=\"DAV-specifications\"\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cul class=\"DAV-grid\"\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cul class=\"DAV-grid\"\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"DAV-grid-item\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0753\/5280\/1565\/files\/Daystar_Filters_Universal_Solar_Finder_Manual.pdf\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e\u003csvg class=\"DAV-img-box\" viewbox=\"0 0 512 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"\u003e\u003cpath d=\"M0 64C0 28.7 28.7 0 64 0L224 0l0 128c0 17.7 14.3 32 32 32l128 0 0 144-208 0c-35.3 0-64 28.7-64 64l0 144-48 0c-35.3 0-64-28.7-64-64L0 64zm384 64l-128 0L256 0 384 128zM176 352l32 0c30.9 0 56 25.1 56 56s-25.1 56-56 56l-16 0 0 32c0 8.8-7.2 16-16 16s-16-7.2-16-16l0-48 0-80c0-8.8 7.2-16 16-16zm32 80c13.3 0 24-10.7 24-24s-10.7-24-24-24l-16 0 0 48 16 0zm96-80l32 0c26.5 0 48 21.5 48 48l0 64c0 26.5-21.5 48-48 48l-32 0c-8.8 0-16-7.2-16-16l0-128c0-8.8 7.2-16 16-16zm32 128c8.8 0 16-7.2 16-16l0-64c0-8.8-7.2-16-16-16l-16 0 0 96 16 0zm80-112c0-8.8 7.2-16 16-16l48 0c8.8 0 16 7.2 16 16s-7.2 16-16 16l-32 0 0 32 32 0c8.8 0 16 7.2 16 16s-7.2 16-16 16l-32 0 0 48c0 8.8-7.2 16-16 16s-16-7.2-16-16l0-64 0-64z\" fill=\"#0047a7\"\u003e\u003c\/path\u003e\u003c\/svg\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"DAV-item-title\"\u003eDownload Manual\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/davidastro.com\/pages\/daystar-filters-warranty-policy\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eDaystar Filters Warranty\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Daystar Filters","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52935164723485,"sku":"DAY-USF","price":70.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0753\/5280\/1565\/files\/DaystarFilters-Universal-Solar-Finder-1_9626a149-442f-46e3-a690-68a171a65291.jpg?v=1789520780","url":"https:\/\/davidastro.com\/products\/daystar-universal-solar-finder","provider":"David Astro","version":"1.0","type":"link"}