Giant Sun Spot #1476

[Ron]

Finally after days of cloudy skies, the clouds parted this morning to let me get a shot of the large Sun Spot #1476.

Ron

[drclay]

That is a beauty, Ron.  Great shots.
It lilkely is partly responsible for one of the "largest ever recorded" solar eruptions this week; very active sun and they are expecting more.
http://www.spaceweather.com/

Doc

[Skywatcher]

Nice image of the sunspot. I was looking at them regularly but it has been a while since I looked. I was hoping to check it out today but it is cloudy in AR. I would be interested to know what you are using to do your imaging. I am going to try using a webcam during the transit of Venus if I am able to see it.

Are you using your LX200 with a full 8" solar filter or is the filter less than 8"? I am using a 70mm reflector with a primary filter but have not tried to image yet.
You are getting good results with whatever you are using. I really liked your 2004 Venus transit images that you posted recently.

James C
Arkansas

[Ron]

James,

I'm using a full Baadar white light filter with my 8" scope. All images are single prime focus shots with my Canon Xti. The first image is a single shot with a 1.6 barlow slightly cropped. The second image is two halves put together with the PM function in my PSE.

If you are using a webcam you should come up with a lot more detail with stacking the images than I get with a single shot.

Thank you all for the compliments,

Ron

[mladams]

Ron, very nice.  Visual using white light Baader filter was very enjoyable thru my Explore Scientific 102.   Keep looking up.

[Ron]

Thanks mladams,

The white light filter has done me well so far, can't wait to see the Venus transit, and I hope the weather cooperates

Some day, if I win the lottery, I would like to have one of the more expensive solar scopes, that's just a dream though

At this year's OBS, my Astronomy Club's winter star party, I was able to really enjoy watching some of the solar prominences from one of the member's setup.  It was the first time I have ever seen the Sun in action in real time.



His scope was connected to a couple of PC monitors located in the little tent.

Ron

[neotesla]

I have a question....  have you done a comparison of the Baader film verus a glass filter?  I keep hearing conflicting comments about one being better than the other for contrast.  As well is there any benefit for a full aperature filter vs an off axis one?

[Ron]

I have a question....  have you done a comparison of the Baader film versus a glass filter?  I keep hearing conflicting comments about one being better than the other for contrast.  As well is there any benefit for a full aperture filter vs an off axis one?

I haven't done a side by side comparison so it's hard to say which one is better.  I would recommend the full aperture though.  I prefer looking at the full disk of the Sun, or as near to full disk as you can.  I always thought I wanted a Thousand Oaks glass filter because of the yellow image of the Sun, but after using the white light Baadar I'm perfectly satisfied with the images I get form my scope, and the price was right

Maybe some other members can drop in a give some more input on different types of solar filters.

Ron

[neotesla]

Oh... forgot to say in ny original post.  Very nice imaging of the sun!

[Ron]

Thanks

Compliments are always great

Ron