Telephoto Sunspots - Aug 3rd

[martinastro]

Snapped this today using the 400mm lens with baader astro solar filter. On view from L to R are giant sunspots 1263, 1261 and 1260, I could see the first two easily with the protected naked eye. 1216 has produced numerous flares and a CME which is heading towards Earth which will cause aurora displays on the nights ahead. 1263 is massive with X-class flare potential so the sun is a very busy and exciting place at the moment.

[rjgjr]

That's a great shot Martin. The 400mm sure does a nice job, I've had little luck from here on trying to image the spots with my 250mm. The more I look at your photo the more detail I can see around the edges. Beautiful!!

[martinastro]

Thanks very much Richard, there's just been another major M-class flare and CME heading to Earth, we now have multiple rounds of aurora potential!

[markt]

Nice image Martin!   You've recorded these spots well.  I've been frustrated with them as other than my one image from a few days ago that's all i've managed to see of them.   The weather has just been either too cloudy or too hazy. 

There is certainly aurora potential from them from all these flares and CMEs we've been having, I just hope the sun manages to keep up the activity of late...

[Big Dipper]

You've caught some superb detail in that Martin. Do you do much solar photography, as I don't recall having seen many (if any) in the past? Thanks also for the aurora alert update in your other thread. It would be great to see a light show from my city location/latitude over the next few nights.

[JohnC]

The 400mm is serving you well,Martin. I see the Jet Stream is  sitting right over the Uk dragging'stuff' in off the Atlantic but  I hope you get  a break and catch an aurora.