Active Sunspot Regions - 775, 776, 778, 779

[iceman (Mike)]

Hi guys.

Here's my first official image taken with my scope mounted on the EQ platform. Alignment was slightly off, so the features still drifted through the FOV but it was much much better than without tracking.

Details:
- 16th June 2005, ~11:00AM
- 10" dob on EQ platform, + ToUcam
- Seeing: 3/10, Transparency: 8/10
- FL: 1250mm (ToUcam at newt prime focus, no barlows as seeing was terrible)

Processing:
- Approx 30-40 frames stacked for each image in registax
- Unsharp mask and contrast adjusted in PS

Thanks, comments welcome.

[[1ponders] (Paul)]

Way cool Mike Excellent clarity. You are using a full aperture filter, correct?

[iceman (Mike)]

Yep, full aperture white light (baader film).

Thanks

[[1ponders] (Paul)]

might have to get me some of that film. I've been looking for something to do at lunchtimes at work

[Rodstar (Rod)]

Ahhhh..the blessing of tracking.

Interesting shots Mike. How long do those spots last for? A few days? Weeks? Months? Years?

[iceman (Mike)]

The sunspots can appear at any time, group 779 appeared out of nowhere in the middle of the sun. Usually they rotate in from the east as the sun rotates, they form around the backside of the sun. But they usually last at least 1 rotation of the sun, which I think is about 24 days. Sometimes they're still there when they have rotated all the way back around to face earth again, but they often change shape and size.

So usually 1-3 weeks, to answer your question.

Paul, they're very easy to make and solar observing can be quite fun. Especially when the nights are cloudy I wish I had a h-a filter though .. or a PST!

[vindictive666 (John)]

plus some sunspots can get upto 12 or 13 times the size of earth

allso i found out yesterday you can fit 180 earth's across the suns diameter

[Dennis]

Great sun spot images Mike. You have captured the faculae very nicely on the limb.

Cheers

Dennis