Helioscope

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A helioscope is an instrument for observing the sun.

The helioscope was used by Benedetto Castelli (1578-1643) and refined by Galileo (1564–1642). The method was to project an image with a telescope pointed at the sun onto a white sheet of paper suspended inside a darkened room.
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The first purpose built heliotropii telioscopici or helioscope was designed by Christoph Scheiner (1575 –1650) to assist his sunspot observations.

[edit] Dictionary definitions

• helioscopic, a. helioscopy, n. Helioscope is a compound word combining helio from the Greek hēlios meaning sun, and scope, an instrument for observing or detecting, from the Greek skopein meaning to look at. (Collins English Dictionary).

• An instrument for viewing the sun without injury to the eyes, as through colored glasses, or with mirrors which reflect but a small portion of light, but mainly by projecting the sun's image onto a viewing screen. (The Free Dictionary)

[edit] Warning

Under no circumstances should a telescope, binoculars, magnifying glass, or any other such magnifying instrument be used to observe the sun directly. This can result in instant blindness.