[Matt Wastell (Matt)]

Hi all

It is time to reminisce about my astronomy sessions for 2011. Last year I shared my favorite sessions / image from 2010

http://www.pbase.com/mattwastell/image/130266466

and I thought it would be fun to do it again – once again a tad self indulgent but it was nice to flip through the total of my year’s hobby.
Last year I shared 67 solar images and 3 lunar images on my website – this year 71 solar and 7 lunar. I am very pleased my love for the Sun in particular is still very strong – I think in 2012 I will upgrade to a Lunt Ha 80!

Images are in chronological order.

I did not have heaps of lunar sessions but when I do I always have some wide field shots at Tycho and surrounds. On the 14 March I took a familiar image including Deslanders (one of my favorite areas on the moon)

http://www.pbase.com/mattwastell/image/133226532

At the SPSP on 2 April I took a brief series through my Lunt60/Ha scope and DMK31. This one looked like a fish leaping from the sun – it still makes me smile!

http://www.pbase.com/mattwastell/image/133659450

On the 21 April I tried some new equipment – my wife’s Nikon D3100 with my Meade LX90 8”. I have always been interested in taking full disc shots in an easy manner – this is it!

http://www.pbase.com/mattwastell/image/134100554

On the 1 May I took this series of a leaping prominence with my usual solar set up. I like the drama as it unfolded!

http://www.pbase.com/mattwastell/image/134337780

This is an image of a large filament taken on 2 May through my Lunt60/Ha scope and DMK31. I really like the detail and inverted image seems to have even greater depth.

http://www.pbase.com/mattwastell/image/134375079

Another one from 2 May – the filament is as above but there is a little popping flare on the limb – my first real image of such an event!

http://www.pbase.com/mattwastell/image/134375081

One of my favourite image(s) of the year – a prominence over an hour on 24 July. I usually find these images tough but it all worked out on the day!

http://www.pbase.com/mattwastell/image/136652902

This image is shows a great active region and some nice detail on the limb. I did not really see the little loop until I processed the image.

http://www.pbase.com/mattwastell/image/138684068


I really enjoyed the total eclipse 10-11 December 2011. I had only ever imaged a penumbral eclipse before (this was by chance not planning) but this time I got the full show. I had been practicing using a Nikon D3100 through my LX90 to take one snap pictures of the Moon in preparation of this eclipse – the practiced paid off.

http://www.pbase.com/mattwastell/image/140237509

I hope to capture Lovejoy before the year is out and I think that would make the list!
2012 looks great from my interests - Venus transits the Sun and I think there is a partial Solar Eclipse too!

Thanks for looking!