Active Sun

The Sun is currently very active but the moments of a clear sky are rather rare.

My first observation of a CME

As said in a previous blogpost I had a sunny but windy morning which made observing via PC screen very difficult. I was tracking the C6 solar flare near AR3372 (see my blogpost) when I saw another solar flare and dark plasma flying away from the sunspot AR3363. It's showing dark due to the fact the plasma is relatively cool and dense and so it silhouetted the glow of the underlying sun. It's my first observation of a live CME.

This solar flare is classified as a B7 (see info via this link).

Setting: SolarMaxIII d70/400 f/5.7 with reducer x0.5 and ASI290MM

Lights: 1000 frames (20% used) and use of flats

Software: SharpCap4, AS3!, AstroSurface Urania U4 and CS4

Sun with C6 Solar Flare in AR3372

This morning started sunny but with a lot of wind. The wind made it not easy to observe via my PC screen. At a certain moment a saw a bright white spot near a sunspot which according SIDC website a solar flare class C. See for more information this link.

The solar flare is near sunspot AR3372.  Be aware the above picture has the correct orientation but should be mirrored. 

Setting: SolarMaxIII D70/400 f/5.7 with reducer x0.5 and ASI290MM

Setting: 1000 frames (20% used)

Software: SharpCap 4, AS3(, AstroSurface Urania U4 and CS4

Sol'Ex Project

I have a new challenge .... Sol'Ex project. Sol’Ex will allow me to observe the surface of the Sun in various spectral lines: Hydrogen, Helium, Sodium, Calcium and many other ones. Sol’Ex is a very compact astronomical Solar instrument, DIY construction, easy to install on your refracting telescope. So far I'm observing the sun in white lights, H-alpha and CaK line. Sol'ex will expand this to a next level with more spectral lines and more detail. And with detail I mean up to <0,05nm. 

It will be a new, fun, progressive project, and will be the gateway to the world of spectroscopy. The Sol'Ex project was kicked off a week ago with the support and help of my Helios collegues Walter and Johan. 

Yesterday, a test was done of the 3D printed material for infrared leaks. All tested material performed well with no infrared leaks. The test was done using ASI178MM with SharpCap4.

More information will follow but if interested see my usefull links  and look for Sol'Ex.

My pictures of rare Parhelic Circle and Circumscribed Halo published in Heelal Magazine

My article and both pictures of my observation of a rare Parhelic Circle and Circumscribed Halo is published in Heelal magazine (Year 2023, number 7, July 2023, page 24 & 25).

See my previous blogposts : blogpost

Rare Parhelic Circle and Circumscribed Halo and Again circumscribed halo with parhelic circle

Article Mars in M44 published in Heelal magazine

My picture and article of planet Mars in open starcluster M44 (Beehive) is published in Heelal magazine (year 68, number 7, july 2023, page 25).

See also my blogpost of Mars in Beehive M44.

Sun in CaK and CaK with reducer set up

Full Sun disc using reducer x0,5 on TLAPO80/480 f/6 with Baader CaK filter. Sunspots and supergranulation cells at the limb are visible.

Setting: TLAPO80/480 f/6 with 0,5x reducer and ASI290MM
Filter: ND3.8 and Baader CaK 8nm double stacked

Software: SharpCap 4, AS3!, CS4, DeNoise AI

Set up from right to left: 

Ring, ocular holder,  CaK filter, 1,25 to2" ring, ring, ring, reducer x0.5, ring and ASI290MM