Abstract: A solar telescope is disclosed that facilitates safe observation of the sun with minimal setup, targeting effort or operator skill. The folded solar telescope of the invention includes a friction stabilized telescope support system that is capable of maintaining a specified telescope orientation. The telescope further includes a targeting system that comprises one or more pointing aids to simplify the process of aligning the telescope with the sun so a solar image is projected onto a viewing surface.

Abstract: A solar telescope is disclosed that facilitates safe observation of the sun with minimal setup, targeting effort or operator skill. The folded solar telescope of the invention includes a friction stabilized telescope support system that is capable of maintaining a specified telescope orientation. The telescope further includes a targeting system that comprises one or more pointing aids to simplify the process of aligning the telescope with the sun so a solar image is projected onto a viewing surface.

Abstract: A solar telescope is disclosed that facilitates safe observation of the sun with minimal setup, targeting effort or operator skill. The folded solar telescope of the invention includes a friction stabilized telescope support system that is capable of maintaining a specified telescope orientation. The telescope further includes a targeting system that comprises one or more pointing aids to simplify the process of aligning the telescope with the sun so a solar image is projected onto a viewing surface.

Abstract: A solar telescope is disclosed that facilitates safe observation of the sun with minimal setup, targeting effort or operator skill. The folded solar telescope of the invention includes a friction stabilized telescope support system that is capable of maintaining a specified telescope orientation. The telescope further includes a targeting system that comprises one or more pointing aids to simplify the process of aligning the telescope with the sun so a solar image is projected onto a viewing surface.

Abstract: A planetarium projector and the method of making the projector is described wherein a light source is surrounded by an opaque enclosure having transparent spots or lines. The enclosure is fabricated from originally planar sheets of photographic film. The enclosure is preferably cylindrical however it may assume other shapes such as conical or a rectangular parallelepiped. The planar sheets of negative type of photographic film are patterned by exposure through a master transparent sheet of plastic on which star locations, zone plate lens, or lines representing geographical boundaries or other figures are drawn in opaque ink.

Abstract: A self-supporting inflatable structure useful, for example, as an inexpensive, readily assembled planetarium, such structure being made of an extensible material having a plurality of panels, each shaped so as to form, when inflated, a hemispherical dome-like structure. A first channel, also made of extensible material is used to supply air, as from an inexpensive, conventional window fan for inflating the structure and a second channel permits the exit of such air in a controlled manner while at the same time acting as an entrance/exit channel for persons using the inflated chamber.The extensible material is preferably formed of co-extruded, or laminated, opaque plastic sheets, one sheet having a white surface for use as the interior display surface of the planetarium and one sheet being black to prevent light entry into the chamber. The air input and exit channels have a curved configuration which prevents light from entering into the inflated chamber.