Exploring the Sun: Amateur Solar Imaging Techniques

[davenn]

A catch up of some latest solar activity
All images with a Canon 6D, 800mm ( 400 + 2x teleconverter)
and a Thousand Oaks white light filter

The spot group to the right on the disc has been producing a few large M class flares
over the 1st and 2nd of Oct. - M5.8 and M8.3 and the largest one, today, at X1.0

25 Sept. 2022

30 Sept. 2022

1 Oct. 2022

cheers
Dave

 

[davenn]

3rd Oct. 2022

All images with a Canon 6D, 800mm (400 + 2x teleconverter)
and a Thousand Oaks white light filter

I don't do too much image editing, mostly some sharpening. I find that imaging through a camera
lens and teleconverter doesn't produce the sharpest of images. there is just so much glass in the
optical path.
If these were images through my telescope with no lenses in the optical path, there would be such
a huge difference.

I should have commented on earlier posts. I have always orientated the images to show the correct
orientation as displayed by professional sites ... NASA etc.
In that light, east is on the left side of the disk and north is to the top. The spots are rotating from east (left) to right.

Comparing this new image to the last one in the previous set of 3 images post. You can see a new
large region rotating into view around the east limb of the Sun. It was only just becoming visible
for the image on the 1st Oct. . It will be interesting to see if it starts unleashing flares in our direction.

Cheers
Dave

 

[davenn]

A catch up of some latest solar activity
All images with a Canon 6D II, 800mm ( 400 + 2x teleconverter)
and a Thousand Oaks white light filter

The sun it's spots for 9th, 10th and 12th Nov 2022

9th

10th

12th

 

[davenn]

A catch up of some latest solar activity
All images with a Canon 6D, 800mm (400 + 2x teleconverter)
and a Thousand Oaks white light filter

As usual, images have been correctly reorientated East is on left, North to the top
(Sunspots appear on the East limb and traverse the solar disk to the right)
The motion of the spot groups can be easily followed across the disk

20 Dec 2022

21 Dec. 2022

23 Dec 2022

24 Dec 2022

1 Jan. 2023

cheers,
Dave

 

[davenn]

Major health hassles put me out of commission for over a week.
Only now finally getting a chance to post some of my latest solar images.

8, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15 Jan

As usual, all images with a Canon 6D, 800mm (400 + 2x teleconverter)
and a Thousand Oaks white light filter
Images have been correctly reorientated East is on left, North to the top
(Sunspots appear on the East limb (left side) and traverse the solar disk to the right)
The motion of the spot groups can be easily followed across the disk

 

[Andy Resnick]

Major health hassles put me out of commission for over a week.
Only now finally getting a chance to post some of my latest solar images.

8, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15 Jan

As usual, all images with a Canon 6D, 800mm (400 + 2x teleconverter)
and a Thousand Oaks white light filter
Images have been correctly reorientated East is on left, North to the top
(Sunspots appear on the East limb (left side) and traverse the solar disk to the right)
The motion of the spot groups can be easily followed across the disk

Oh yeah... that's what the sun looks like! Haven't seen it in weeks! Does that mean it's not really there?... :)

 

[davenn]

Sunspots for the 10 and 11 of Feb. 2023

As usual, all images with a Canon 6D, 800mm (400 + 2x teleconverter) and a Thousand Oaks white light filter
Images have been correctly reorientated East is on left, North to the top
(Sunspots appear on the East limb (left side) and traverse the solar disk to the right)

 

[berkeman]

I took this today with my Google Pixel 6:

Spoiler

J/K

https://www.cnn.com/2023/02/16/world/new-sun-image-nasa-nustar-scn/index.html

 

[neilparker62]

I took this today with my Google Pixel 6:

View attachment 322394

Spoiler

J/K

https://www.cnn.com/2023/02/16/world/new-sun-image-nasa-nustar-scn/index.html

Awesome pic! What filter are you using ? Can you perhaps take a couple of pics of well know constellations (eg Orion) and post. Would just like to see what kind of quality your Pixel 6 delivers on 'point and shoot' astro-photography. Maybe Moon and planets as well ?

 

[neilparker62]

I took this today with my Google Pixel 6:

View attachment 322394

Spoiler

J/K

https://www.cnn.com/2023/02/16/world/new-sun-image-nasa-nustar-scn/index.html

You're supposed to wait till April 1 for this But I'd still be keen to see how good the Pixel 6 is on astro-photography!

 

[davenn]

Sunspots for the 18 and 19 of Feb. 2023
As usual, all images with a Canon 6D, 800mm (400 + 2x teleconverter) and a Thousand Oaks white light filter
Images have been correctly reorientated East is on left, North to the top
(Sunspots appear on the East limb (left side) and traverse the solar disk to the right)

 

[davenn]

The Sun - 10 May 2023

Canon 6D II, 800mm ( 400 + 2x teleconverter) and a Thousand Oaks white light filter
Images have been correctly reorientated East is on left, North to the top
(Sunspots appear on the East limb (left side) and traverse the solar disk to the right)

 

[davenn]

last 3 days of sunspots 11, 12, 13th of May 2023
Canon 6D II, 800mm f/l, Orion white light filter
Sun has been correctly reorientated E on the left and spots move across the solar disk from left to right

 

[davenn]

last 4 days of sunspots 18, 19, 20th and 21st of May 2023
Canon 6D II, 800mm f/l, Orion white light filter
Sun has been correctly reorientated E on the left and spots move across the solar disk from left to right

Cheers
Dave

 

[berkeman]

I don't know if this has been posted before, but here's a nice article from CNN today:

https://www.cnn.com/2023/05/25/world/solar-telescope-sunspot-images-scn

 

[davenn]

I don't know if this has been posted before, but here's a nice article from CNN today:

View attachment 327063
https://www.cnn.com/2023/05/25/world/solar-telescope-sunspot-images-scn

ohhh nice !! the details being captured these days is outstanding

 

[davenn]

Latest set of sunspot images, 22, 23, 24th and 26 and 27th of May 2023
Canon 6D II, 800mm f/l, Orion white light filter
Sun has been correctly reorientated E on the left and spots move across the solar disk from left to right

cheers
Dave

 

[davenn]

Latest set of sunspot images, 29, 30 May and 01 and 02 of June 2023
Canon 6D II, 800mm f/l, Orion white light filter
Sun has been correctly reorientated E on the left and spots move across the solar disk from left to right

cheers
Dave

 

[SusieQ]

The Sun in Ha 13 Apr 2018

Been off work all week with a not nice case of bronchitis, am feeling very unwell
but did decide to haul the gear out today and do some solar imaging
Reasonably quiet, 4 or 5 small filaments across lower part of disk, 2 groups of prominences on opposite limbs.
The new active region has moved further onto the disk and is showing an associated filament ...
The seeing conditions were better than yesterday
Lunt LS60THa, ZWO ASI1600MM and SharpCap capture software

View attachment 223970

View attachment 223971

View attachment 223972

View attachment 223973

Cheers
Dave

Hello, new here. If you still have your LS60 and ASI1600MM, would you please post an image of the camera mounted on the LS60?

 

[davenn]

Hello, new here. If you still have your LS60 and ASI1600MM, would you please post an image of the camera mounted on the LS60?

Hi there
Welcome to PF

not sure if I have taken a pic or not, I will have a look this weekend

cheers
Dave

 

[SusieQ]

Thank you, very kind of you.

 

[davenn]

Thank you, very kind of you.

I dont have one with the ASI1600 attached, just one with the ASI178

Next time I'm imaging, will try and remember to photo the upgraded setup

 

[davenn]

Hey everyone
Sorry I havent posted any images for a while, life has been a bit hectic.
Time for a catchup. The last image in the previous image post was for the 2nd June 2023.
This post with start with the 6th June and continue from there

As Always.....
Canon 6D II, 800mm f/l, Orion white light filter
Sun has been correctly reorientated E on the left and spots move across the solar disk from left to right

6 June 2023

7 June 2023

9 June 2023

 

[davenn]

Canon 6D II, 800mm f/l, Orion white light filter
Sun has been correctly reorientated E on the left and spots move across the solar disk from left to right

10 June 2023

11 June 2023

12 June 2023

 

[davenn]

Continuing the catchup.
This post with start with the 13th June and continue from there.
13 - 18 June
As Always.....
Canon 6D II, 800mm f/l, Orion white light filter
Sun has been correctly reorientated E on the left and spots move across the solar disk from left to right

 

[davenn]

16, 17, 18th

 

[DaveE]

My undergrad roommate worked at the Big Bear Solar Observatory during the summer. One of his jobs was to be tour guide. He said in nearly every tour they would ask "how far can this telescope see?" He explained that they only pointed it at the sun, and that you could see stars much farther away without any telescope. This would draw blank looks and some confusion. He quickly learned to just say "93 million miles!", which they thought was very impressive.

Nice photos.

 

[davenn]

He quickly learned to just say "93 million miles!", which they thought was very impressive.

uh huh, the avg Joe Bloggs has no concept of big distances

Nice photos.

Thankyou

Dave N

 

[davenn]

Continuing the catchup.
This post with start with the 19th June and continue from there.
19 - 29 June
As Always.....
Canon 6D II, 800mm f/l, Orion white light filter
Sun has been correctly reorientated E on the left and spots move across the solar disk from left to right

19, 20, 21

 

[davenn]

23, 24, 25

 

[davenn]

26, 27, 29

This massive group formed within 48 hrs out of nowhere. All us that watch the Sun were truly surprised.

cheers
Dave

 

[davenn]

Continuing the catchup.
This post with start with the 30th June and continue from there.
30 June - 06 July
As Always.....
Canon 6D II, 800mm f/l, Orion white light filter
Sun has been correctly reorientated E on the left and spots move across the solar disk from left to right

 

[davenn]

This post with start with the 07 th July and continue from there.
07 - 10 July

 

[Borg]

Here's an interesting arrangement of six months worth of solar images shown on Tuesday's APOD.

Explanation: Why is our Sun so active now?No one is sure. An increase in surface activity was expected because our Sun is approaching solar maximum in 2025.However, last month our Sun sprouted more sunspots than in any month during the entire previous 11-year solar cycle -- and even dating back to 2002.The featured picture is a composite of images taken every day from January to June by NASA's Solar Dynamic Observatory. Showing a high abundance of sunspots, large individual spots can be tracked across the Sun's disk, left to right, over about two weeks. As a solar cycle continues, sunspots typically appear closer to the equator. Sunspots are just one way that our Sun displays surface activity -- another is flares and coronal mass ejections (CMEs) that expel particles out into the Solar System.Since these particles can affect astronauts and electronics, tracking surface disturbances is of more than aesthetic value. Conversely, solar activity can have very high aesthetic value -- in the Earth's atmosphere when they trigger aurora.

 

[davenn]

Continuing the catchup.
This post with start with the 11th July and continue from there.
11 July - 14 July
As Always.....
Canon 6D II, 800mm f/l, Orion white light filter
Sun has been correctly reorientated E on the left and spots move across the solar disk from left to right