Astronomy, Photography and Weather

General Category => Astronomy & Space => Topic started by: brianb on March 22, 2010, 05:53:33 pm



Title: Solar Activity Mar 22
Post by: brianb on March 22, 2010, 05:53:33 pm
The morning dawned cloudy after overnight rain but a clearance developed during the morning. Sadly it was short lived, heavy showers soon moving in, but I did manage to observe between the front clearing and the arrival of the first shower.

The overview shots show a Sun which is steadily becoming less active.

(http://i885.photobucket.com/albums/ac55/bjb11213/2010/March/22/Sun-100322-1003-CaK.jpg)
2010 Mar 22, 1003 UT. Coronado PST CaK @ f/10, DMK41.

(http://i885.photobucket.com/albums/ac55/bjb11213/2010/March/22/Sun-100322-1008-Ha.jpg)
2010 Mar 22, 1008 UT. Solarscope 60 @ f/5, DMK41. (Disc and proms exposed seperately)

AR1056 has a medium sized "white light" spot and several spotlets but there is no other activity visible in white light.

(http://i885.photobucket.com/albums/ac55/bjb11213/2010/March/22/Sun-100322-1027-WL-AR1056-FLTX4.jpg)
2010 Mar 22, 1027 UT. WO FLT 110 @ f/28, Baader solar film (ND 5.0), DMK21.

AR 1056 is also interesting in CaK and in Ha, where it is enhanced by the persistent filament to its west:

(http://i885.photobucket.com/albums/ac55/bjb11213/2010/March/22/Sun-100322-1034-CaK-AR1056-FLTX2.jpg)
2010 Mar 22, 1034 UT. WO FLT 110 @ f/21, Lunt B1200 CaK diagonal, DMK21

(http://i885.photobucket.com/albums/ac55/bjb11213/2010/March/22/Sun-100322-1011-Ha-AR1056-X2.jpg)
2010 Mar 22, 1011 UT. Solarscope 60 @ f/24, DMK21

The pair of filaments in the south east sector remain a prominent feature in Ha. Very interesting how the long filament maintains its tight shape in the apparent absence of magnetic activity nearby ... obviously there is a strong magnetic field at the altitude of the filament if not at chromospheric level!

(http://i885.photobucket.com/albums/ac55/bjb11213/2010/March/22/Sun-100322-1010-Ha-filaEC-X2.jpg)
2010 Mar 22, 1010 UT. Solarscope 60 @ f/24, DMK21.

Prominences are not remarkable. There is a smallish, low "hedgerow" on the west limb and another on the east limb.

(http://i885.photobucket.com/albums/ac55/bjb11213/2010/March/22/Sun-100322-1014-Ha-promW-X2.jpg)
1014 UT. SV60 @ f/24, DMK21

(http://i885.photobucket.com/albums/ac55/bjb11213/2010/March/22/Sun-100322-1015-Ha-promSE-X2.jpg)
1015 UT. SV60 @ f/24, DMK21

The largest prominences are actually on the north east limb, though they're pretty faint:

(http://i885.photobucket.com/albums/ac55/bjb11213/2010/March/22/Sun-100322-1016-Ha-promNE-X2.jpg)
1016 UT. SV60 @ f/24, DMK21

Transparency very good though with building shower cloud. Seeing fair but with moderate boiling when using the FLT 110. Temperature 11C (dropping to 7C as showers arrived), wind W force 3-4 gusting 5.


Title: Re: Solar Activity Mar 22
Post by: markt on March 22, 2010, 10:49:29 pm
Top shots Brian!  8)