Ease of use and versatility are the hallmarks of the Alpine Astronomical 1x Sky Surfer V Finder?the SSV. It can be used as a conventional unmagnified wide-field red-dot nighttime finder or, by installing the included screen, as a safe daytime solar finder. Integrated altitude and azimuth knobs on the housing allow you to quickly align the finder with your telescope.





For nighttime use, the red-dot reticle provides a simple yet accurate way to point your telescope at the desired celestial object for alignment or fast point-and-observe sessions. Its brightness can be adjusted by choosing one of the 11 available intensity levels to tailor it to the viewing conditions and personal preference. Front and rear dew shields help to keep condensation off the lenses, and dust caps keep the field of view clear.





For safe solar viewing, the SSV can be converted into a projection finder by installing the included opaque screen on the back cover. A hole in the front dust cap allows a small beam of light to pass through to the opaque screen. As you move the telescope the small dot of light will move until it is in the center?indicating that the sun is centered in your eyepiece. It is important to practice safe solar viewing techniques, including pre-installing your solar filter on the front of your telescope and never looking directly at the sun. Failure to follow safe viewing procedures can lead to permanent eye damage, up to and including blindness.





The housing is made of a lightweight and durable aluminum alloy that is sealed to be waterproof. The SSV comes with a quick-release dovetail mounting base that is pre-drilled to fit most optical tube finder mounting points and a riser to make looking through the finder more comfortable. If you don't need the riser, the finder can be directly mounted onto the base to maintain a lower profile.