Today and tomorrow (5/11 and 5/12) an extremely large group of

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In summary, today and tomorrow (5/11 and 5/12) an extremely large group of sunspots is directly facing the earth. This could lead to solar flares.
  • #1
Andy Resnick
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Today and tomorrow (5/11 and 5/12) an extremely large group of sunspots is directly facing the earth:

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/technology/2012/05/enormous-sunspot-could-lead-to-solar-flares/

I went outside this morning and using a ND 7.0 filter could see it by eye, so photographs could be quite spectacular. Note- if you are not sure what 'ND 7.0' means, then don't risk damaging your eye and/or camera.

Notes: when I photograph the sun, I use at least ND 5.0, no polarizers, but keep the UV filter. The order matters- the UV filter goes at the back end, after the ND filters, to prevent damage. The ND filters have been absorptive, but I just found a reflective one buried in one of the labs which I'll try today. Even at ND 5.0 I have to stop down to f/44 (f/22 + 2X tele) and expose at 1/8000 s. If I want to add a color filter, that goes last, after everything else.

Good luck!
 
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  • #2


Are you going to try for the transit of Venus on June 5?
 
  • #3


Definitely! It will be visible here around sunset... I've been getting dizzy converting universal time to local time.
 
  • #4


Whoa:

http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/4374/dsc44051.jpg [Broken]

http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/3820/dsc440521.jpg [Broken]
 
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  • #5


That thing must be at least twice the size of the Earth. Or even a dozen!
 
  • #6


So I drove to the sea for the sunset and see if I could capture it.

Bummer, the sun hid behind frontal system clouds coming in, before it was dim enough to lock on.

I guess I need that seven stops neutral density filter (ND7).
 
  • #7


I guess Venus counts as a 'sunspot' tonight- most likely I'll never find out as the clouds are heavy and getting heavier... :(
 
  • #8


The skies miraculously cleared up right at 6:03 pm. Here's a sample:

http://img812.imageshack.us/img812/908/dsc009811.jpg [Broken]

My lens is *filthy*- aside from all the sunspots...
 
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  • #9


Andy Resnick said:
The skies miraculously cleared up right at 6:03 pm. Here's a sample:

My lens is *filthy*- aside from all the sunspots...
Nevertheless, nice!
 
  • #10


Nice Andy!
 
  • #11


Beautiful! Much better than the crude pictures that I produced by using a pair of binoculars as a "projector" and photographing the resulting image on a screen.
 
  • #12


Here's a few more, after some post-processing:

http://img826.imageshack.us/img826/306/montagesmall.jpg [Broken]

and a close-up just as Venus makes 'second contact'- supposedly it's possible to see Venus's atmosphere, but I'm not sure I can:

http://img690.imageshack.us/img690/151/kisska.jpg [Broken]

And then a cleaned-up version of the one I posted earlier: I stacked about 40 frames to get rid of the dirt, then added Venus later. One bonus- the solar atmosphere along the limb is visible (at the bottom):

http://img819.imageshack.us/img819/4420/tweaksmalll.jpg [Broken]
 
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1. What is the significance of the large group on 5/11 and 5/12?

The large group on 5/11 and 5/12 is significant because it allows for a larger sample size in experiments or studies, which can lead to more accurate results and conclusions.

2. How is the size of the group determined for these dates?

The size of the group is typically determined by the specific experiment or study being conducted. It could be based on statistical power calculations or the availability of participants.

3. What type of experiments or studies can be conducted with this large group?

The possibilities are endless, but some examples include behavioral studies, surveys, clinical trials, or research on social dynamics and group behavior.

4. Will the results from this large group be more reliable?

Having a larger group does not guarantee more reliable results. Other factors such as study design, control of variables, and data analysis methods also play a crucial role in the reliability of the results.

5. Can individuals still participate in this large group on 5/11 and 5/12?

It depends on the specific experiment or study. Some may be open to participation from individuals, while others may have specific criteria for selecting participants. It is best to check with the researchers or organizers for more information.

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