Post by Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe on Jul 28, 2004 11:48:24 GMT -6
Solar Observations of 28 July 2004
I took some time away from my needed duties and undertook some solar observation this morning..and came away with good images of sunspots 652 and 654. I haven't indulged in solar observation in quite a very long time. Not since the Christmas eclipse of 2001 I think...
I set up right outside my garage this fine Wednesday morning, and my neighbors who drove by thought me odd. They may be right...
I erected my portable screen, balanced on top of the telescope case and focused ever so carefully until I could get sharp images of the sunspots. I was using different filters now, and the blue and orange ones brought out nice detail. But now, I had noticed that the focuser was getting rather warm...
This is probably my best imaging of Sunspots that I have ever taken the time to shoot.
You can clearly see group 1 (652) near the edge, and grouping 4 & 5 (654) was imaged nicely as well. But I did not see sunspot grouping 2 & 3 while observing. It was only after downloading the images that they became visible to me. Spaceweather.com does not identify these sunspots...perhaps they are new ones...or maybe just dust specks!
I also could not observe sunspot 653. If I squint and look long enough, the area below 652 COULD be the area. Now the focuser and eyepiece was a tad warmer then before, and I was getting a bit concerned. I have read where the intense heat can actually harm and warp the optics of a scope. But since I don't have a aperture filter, I let caution to the wind...
This last image is kinda cool, with the sunspots displayed as depressions on the sun. The embossing creates a 3-d effect to good study.
Overall I had a good time shooting these monster sunspots that could swallow the Earth and more. I understand the flares they spewed produced Auroras way down south. Can't say that this city boy has ever seen one. I had thought that I might have missed these sunspots as it's been rather cloudy here during the day. But I am certainly glad that I took the time out to capture the spots.
Not bad for a modest 4.5" reflector.