With the scope out on the patio from last nights comet treat and Solar activity to enjoy I just had to grab a view this morning.
I am a pretty simple person in my approach to life. I do not need expensive trips or vacations to relax; just a day trip here and there to the beach is a great rejuvenatory thing for me.
Solar Beaches ( those bright webby things surrounding active regions also called Faculae which are ionized gas hotter than the surroundings held aloft by magnetic field lines!) seem to have the same effect. With the wedge these just seem to jump off the Solar disk and are so striking!
Enlarge the image and see that group on the left edge - awesome!!!! My morning on the beach found me stuck behind the eyepiece for an hour taking in all the Solar limb was showing! With patient and black towel shrouded observations these Solar Beaches wax and wane in intensity over minutes with new extensions popping into view! FUN!!!!!
I did use plenty of sun screen too......
6 comments:
Isn't old Sol wonderful...
Over the years I haven't done much Sol watching, but in the last few months I've started to makeup for lost time...
Great post SUG :0)
Hey Pembs,
With the advent of the internet and and info overload sometimes it is just easier the go to SOHO or SDO and look at all the pretty pics!
But nothing inspires like the eyepiece views!
VERY much enjoyed reading your simple approach to life SUG. I recently (in June) went through all my belongings and re did my bedroom and house and just have the basics ..clothes, astronomy books, shoes, toothbrush, dishes etc.
LIFE IS EASIER!
Hey NSG it is amazing how astronomy fits so nicely into this lifestyle. It is relaxed, inspiring, fulfilling, right outside your door,available. What a gift we have been given as we get to take a vacation every time we look up!
I haven't done much solar observing since my camping trip at the end of July. That observing was great, though. I had my usual little refractor for projection viewing. Plus I bought Hillary a 60mm shorty refractor from a friend, and Bill sweetened the deal by including Baader solar film. She just takes a small cover off the dust cap, and instant solar scope. Too awesome.
The observatory complex we were camping at had a mask an Ha filter for their primary scope, a 16" Meade LX200. Of course el Sol cooperated nicely with so many means of observation. There were a few sunspot groups, and a nice prominence when I viewed through the Ha filter.
I've been missing the Sun though, even online. Got to check it out again soon.
Hey Paulie nice to hear from you. Baader film is excellent!
It is really cool that you have access to the "16 scope and all the goodies. ENJOY!!!!!
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