Sun

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0 height="100%"><tr> <td valign="top" width=168 BGCOLOR="#000000" TEXT="#F7F7FF" background="13ea11c3.png"> <div> <A HREF="http://www.petergarbett.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.petergarbett.com"><B><IMG SRC="1fd64510.png" border=0 width="100" height="81" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></A></div> <div> <A HREF="https://www.petergarbett.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="https://www.petergarbett.com"><B>Home</B></A></div> <bR> <div> <B>Observing the Sun is potentially very dangerous! The only two safe methods are projection onto a screen or use of a special filter that covers the </B><B><U>front end</U></B><B> of the telescope.</B></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>White light features...</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Sunspots</B> are cooler regions (4200K) that appear dark in contrast to their hotter (5800K) surroundings. They are caused by strong magnetic fields (up to 0.4T) that prevent hot gases from deeper inside the Sun rising upwards. Normally, convection would supply fresh hot gas, but in sunspots the lack of replenishment allows cooling to take place.</div> <div> The number of sunspots varies greatly from day to day and shows a roughly 11 year cycle of activity. Sunspot activity is linked to auroral displays.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Faculae</B> are often associated with sunspot groups and appear as a network of brighter material, only seen when near the limb where contrast is greater. They are hotter regions and appear before a sunspot emerges from the photosphere and last after the spot has disappeared.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>H-alpha features...</B></div> <bR> <div> H-alpha images from 2003 to mid-2005 were obtained with a SolarMax 40 Hydrogen Alpha filter supplied by Coronado with a band pass of less than 0.08nm. This was double stacked from the summer of 2005 onwards to produce a band pass of less than 0.05nm. The filter only transmits light with the exact wavelength of 656.3nm (corresponding to the H-alpha line in the Sun's spectrum). This has the desirable effect of dramatically increasing the contrast of  prominences ('flame-like' structures) and other features that originate in the chromosphere.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Solar flares</B> are temporary brightenings caused by the reconnection of lines of opposite magnetic flux. They occur where the magnetic field is twisted into a complex pattern, with opposing polarities in close proximity.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Plages </B>are much longer lived lesser brightenings often associated with sunspot groups.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Filaments</B> are dark, worm-like features. They are simply prominences seen in front of the solar disk.</div> <bR> <div> The images prior to 2003 were all obtained with a Lumicon 0.15nm band pass Hydrogen Alpha filter.</div> <bR> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" width="100%" BGCOLOR="#000000" TEXT="#F7F7FF"> <div> <B>The Sun, our nearest star</B></div> <div> <IMG SRC="00758020.png" border=0 width="600" height="2" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B><U>Solar Activity</U></B></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="497d1560.png" border=0 width="977" height="598" ALT="Microsoft Excel Worksheet" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <A HREF="http://www.petergarbett.com/Aurora" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.petergarbett.com/Aurora"><IMG SRC="1cd9dce0.jpg" border=0 width="413" height="206" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></A>   <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFCC33" FACE="Trebuchet MS" >Click on the photo for Aurora Gallery</FONT><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#FFCC33" FACE="Trebuchet MS" > </FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B>Above left</B>: Aurora Borealis 15th July 2000   <B>Above right</B>: sunspot group that caused the aurora as seen on 13th July 2000.</div> <bR> <div> Click here for drawings made by Galileo of sunspots: <A HREF="http://galileo.rice.edu/sci/observations/sunspot_drawings.html" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://galileo.rice.edu/sci/observations">http://galileo.rice.edu/sci/observations/sunspot_drawings.html</A></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <A HREF="https://www.petergarbett.com/Sun in 2024 to Feb 2026" TARGET="_top" TITLE="https://www.petergarbett.com/Sun in 2024"><IMG SRC="32664610.jpg" border=0 width="100" height="97" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></A>   <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FFCC33" FACE="Trebuchet MS" ><A HREF="https://www.petergarbett.com/Sun in 2024 to Feb 2026" TARGET="_top" TITLE="https://www.petergarbett.com/Sun in 2024"><B>Sun 2024-Feb 2026</B></A></FONT></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <A HREF="https://www.petergarbett.com/Sun in 2013 and 2014" TARGET="_top" TITLE="https://www.petergarbett.com/Sun in 2013"><IMG SRC="32664610.jpg" border=0 width="100" height="97" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></A> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FFCC33" FACE="Trebuchet MS" > <A HREF="http://petergarbett.com/Sun in 2015 to 2019" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://petergarbett.com/Sun in 2015 to 2"><B>Sun 2015-2019</B></A></FONT><B> </B>             <A HREF="https://www.petergarbett.com/Sun in 2013 and 2014" TARGET="_top" TITLE="https://www.petergarbett.com/Sun in 2013"><IMG SRC="32664610.jpg" border=0 width="100" height="97" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></A> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FFCC33" FACE="Trebuchet MS" ><A HREF="https://www.petergarbett.com/Sun in 2013 and 2014" TARGET="_top" TITLE="https://www.petergarbett.com/Sun in 2013"><B>Sun 2013-14</B></A></FONT>                   <A HREF="https://www.petergarbett.com/Sun in 2012" TARGET="_top" TITLE="https://www.petergarbett.com/Sun in 2012"><IMG SRC="32664610.jpg" border=0 width="100" height="97" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></A> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FFCC33" FACE="Trebuchet MS" ><A HREF="https://www.petergarbett.com/Sun in 2012" TARGET="_top" TITLE="https://www.petergarbett.com/Sun in 2012"><B>Sun 2012</B></A></FONT>                  <A HREF="https://www.petergarbett.com/Sun prior to 2012" TARGET="_top" TITLE="https://www.petergarbett.com/Sun prior t"><IMG SRC="32664610.jpg" border=0 width="100" height="97" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></A> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FFCC33" FACE="Trebuchet MS" ><A HREF="https://www.petergarbett.com/Sun prior to 2012" TARGET="_top" TITLE="https://www.petergarbett.com/Sun prior t"><B>Sun pre 2012</B></A></FONT> </div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="4985e3e0.jpg" border=0 width="1630" height="1598" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> 09.05.26  09:37.5 UTC, Coronado SM40 double-stacked filters, f=600mm, IR/UV cut filter, Saturn-M SQR camera.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="499cc6c0.jpg" border=0 width="1740" height="1644" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> Processed to show the prominences clearly.</div> <div> 09.05.26  09:37.5 UTC, Coronado SM40 double-stacked filters, f=600mm, IR/UV cut filter, Saturn-M SQR camera.</div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="49a757a0.jpg" border=0 width="1653" height="1658" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> 07.05.26  15:27.4 UTC, white light filter, 80mm ED refractor, f=600mm, Baader solar continuum filter, IR/UV cut filter, Saturn-M SQR camera</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="49b8b4e0.jpg" border=0 width="1675" height="1614" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> M2 flare at exrtreme edge of the disk at approximately 8 o'clock position</div> <div> 07.05.26  15:17.3 UTC, Coronado SM40 double-stacked filters, f=600mm, IR/UV cut filter, Saturn-M SQR camera.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="49c8b4e0.jpg" border=0 width="1675" height="1614" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> M2 flare at exrtreme edge of the disk at approximately 8 o'clock position</div> <div> 07.05.26  15:17.3 UTC, Coronado SM40 double-stacked filters, f=600mm, IR/UV cut filter, Saturn-M SQR camera.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="49d74640.jpg" border=0 width="1652" height="1636" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> M2 flare at exrtreme edge of the disk at approximately 8 o'clock position triggering an eruptive prominence.</div> <div> 07.05.26  15:14.4 UTC, Coronado SM40 double-stacked filters, f=600mm, IR/UV cut filter, Saturn-M SQR camera.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="49e3c260.jpg" border=0 width="1596" height="1574" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> 02.05.26  09:42 UTC, white light filter, 80mm ED refractor, f=600mm, Baader solar continuum filter, IR/UV cut filter, Saturn-M SQR camera</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="49f82640.jpg" border=0 width="1666" height="1636" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> 02.05.26  09:51 UTC, Coronado SM40 double-stacked filters, f=600mm, IR/UV cut filter, Saturn-M SQR camera.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="4a082640.jpg" border=0 width="1666" height="1636" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> 02.05.26  09:51 UTC, Coronado SM40 double-stacked filters, f=600mm, IR/UV cut filter, Saturn-M SQR camera.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="4a1463a0.jpg" border=0 width="1606" height="1594" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> 29.04.26  10:04 UTC, white light filter, 80mm ED refractor, f=600mm, Baader solar continuum filter, IR/UV cut filter, Saturn-M SQR camera</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="4a27e760.jpg" border=0 width="1662" height="1654" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> 29.04.26  09:56 UTC, Coronado SM40 double-stacked filters, f=600mm, IR/UV cut filter, Saturn-M SQR camera.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="4a37e760.jpg" border=0 width="1662" height="1654" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> 29.04.26  09:56 UTC, Coronado SM40 double-stacked filters, f=600mm, IR/UV cut filter, Saturn-M SQR camera.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="4a4844a0.jpg" border=0 width="1668" height="1610" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> 24.04.26  10:08 UTC, white light filter, 80mm ED refractor, f=600mm, Baader solar continuum filter, IR/UV cut filter, Saturn-M SQR camera</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="4a59a720.jpg" border=0 width="1690" height="1650" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> 24.04.26  10:18 UTC, Coronado SM40 double-stacked filters, f=600mm, IR/UV cut filter, Saturn-M SQR camera.</div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="4a69a720.jpg" border=0 width="1690" height="1650" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> 24.04.26  10:18 UTC, Coronado SM40 double-stacked filters, f=600mm, IR/UV cut filter, Saturn-M SQR camera.</div> <div> <IMG SRC="4a7a07e0.jpg" border=0 width="1696" height="1662" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> 06.04.26  10:35 UTC, white light filter, 80mm ED refractor, f=600mm, Baader solar continuum filter, IR/UV cut filter, Saturn-M SQR camera</div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="4a87e360.jpg" border=0 width="1662" height="1590" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> 06.04.26  10:29 UTC, Coronado SM40 double-stacked filters, f=600mm, IR/UV cut filter, Saturn-M SQR camera.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="4a97e2e0.jpg" border=0 width="1662" height="1582" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> 06.04.26  10:29 UTC, Coronado SM40 double-stacked filters, f=600mm, IR/UV cut filter, Saturn-M SQR camera.</div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="4aa9b850.jpg" border=0 width="1691" height="1669" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> 02.04.26  10:15 UTC, white light filter, 80mm ED refractor, f=600mm, Baader solar continuum filter, IR/UV cut filter, Saturn-M SQR camera</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="4ab3b330.jpg" border=0 width="1595" height="1587" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> 02.04.26  10:02 UTC, Coronado SM40 double-stacked filters, f=600mm, IR/UV cut filter, Saturn-M SQR camera. C1 flare in AR4409.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="4ac3b330.jpg" border=0 width="1595" height="1587" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> 02.04.26  10:02 UTC, Coronado SM40 double-stacked filters, f=600mm, IR/UV cut filter, Saturn-M SQR camera. C1 flare in AR4409.</div> <div> <IMG SRC="4add07e0.jpg" border=0 width="1744" height="1662" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> 31.03.26  14:53 UTC, white light filter, 80mm ED refractor, f=600mm, Baader solar continuum filter, IR/UV cut filter, Saturn-M SQR camera</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="4aec5820.jpg" border=0 width="1733" height="1666" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> 31.03.26  14:35 UTC, Coronado SM40 double-stacked filters, f=600mm, IR/UV cut filter, Saturn-M SQR camera</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="4afc5820.jpg" border=0 width="1733" height="1666" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> 31.03.26  14:35 UTC, Coronado SM40 double-stacked filters, f=600mm, IR/UV cut filter, Saturn-M SQR camera</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="4b0a2820.jpg" border=0 width="1698" height="1666" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> 28.03.26  09:07 UTC, white light filter, 80mm ED refractor, f=600mm, Baader solar continuum filter, IR/UV cut filter, Saturn-M SQR camera</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="4b1aa4d0.jpg" border=0 width="1706" height="1613" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> 28.03.26  09:23 UTC, Coronado SM40 double-stacked filters, f=600mm, IR/UV cut filter, Saturn-M SQR camera</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="4b2aa4d0.jpg" border=0 width="1706" height="1613" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> 28.03.26  09:23 UTC, Coronado SM40 double-stacked filters, f=600mm, IR/UV cut filter, Saturn-M SQR camera</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="4b37d760.jpg" border=0 width="1661" height="1654" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> 26.03.26  10:03 UTC, Coronado SM40 double-stacked filters, f=600mm, IR/UV cut filter, Saturn-M SQR camera</div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="4b47d760.jpg" border=0 width="1661" height="1654" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> 26.03.26  10:03 UTC, Coronado SM40 double-stacked filters, f=600mm, IR/UV cut filter, Saturn-M SQR camera</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="4b5c9840.jpg" border=0 width="1737" height="1668" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> 26.03.26  10:16 UTC, white light filter, 80mm ED refractor, f=600mm, Baader solar continuum filter, IR/UV cut filter, Saturn-M SQR camera</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="4b6ad7e0.jpg" border=0 width="1709" height="1662" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> 18.03.26  10:16 UTC, Coronado SM40 double-stacked filters, f=600mm, IR/UV cut filter, Saturn-M SQR camera</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="4b7ad7e0.jpg" border=0 width="1709" height="1662" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> 18.03.26  10:16 UTC, Coronado SM40 double-stacked filters, f=600mm, IR/UV cut filter, Saturn-M SQR camera</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="4b87a6f0.jpg" border=0 width="1658" height="1647" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> 14.03.26  10:51 UTC, Coronado SM40 double-stacked filters, f=600mm, IR/UV cut filter, Saturn-M SQR camera</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="4b97a6f0.jpg" border=0 width="1658" height="1647" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> 14.03.26  10:51 UTC, Coronado SM40 double-stacked filters, f=600mm, IR/UV cut filter, Saturn-M SQR camera</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="4ba975c0.jpg" border=0 width="1687" height="1628" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> 11.03.26  10:29 UTC, Coronado SM40 double-stacked filters, f=600mm, IR/UV cut filter, Saturn-M SQR camera</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="4bb975c0.jpg" border=0 width="1687" height="1628" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> 11.03.26  10:29 UTC, Coronado SM40 double-stacked filters, f=600mm, IR/UV cut filter, Saturn-M SQR camera</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="4bc7a4f0.jpg" border=0 width="1658" height="1615" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> 10.03.26  11:41 UTC, Coronado SM40 double-stacked filters, f=600mm, IR/UV cut filter, Saturn-M SQR camera</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="4bd7a4f0.jpg" border=0 width="1658" height="1615" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> 10.03.26  11:41 UTC, Coronado SM40 double-stacked filters, f=600mm, IR/UV cut filter, Saturn-M SQR camera</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="4be664e0.jpg" border=0 width="1638" height="1614" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> 05.03.26  11:16 UTC, white light filter, 80mm ED refractor, f=600mm, Baader solar continuum filter, IR/UV cut filter, Saturn-M SQR camera</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="4bf64590.jpg" border=0 width="1636" height="1625" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> 05.03.26  11:06 UTC, Coronado SM40 double-stacked filters, f=600mm, IR/UV cut filter, Saturn-M SQR camera</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="4c064590.jpg" border=0 width="1636" height="1625" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> 05.03.26  11:06 UTC, Coronado SM40 double-stacked filters, f=600mm, IR/UV cut filter, Saturn-M SQR camera</div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>