First solar view. Amazing stuff! Questions.

[Jnicholes]

So, I was able to do a temporary fix on my telescope mount. I couldn’t track, but I was able to use it to do my first solar viewing.

I had a solar filter, by the way. Aperture filter.

I got a picture of the sun. There’s a weird black spot on it, I’m not sure what it is. When I compared it to a tree, there was no black spot. It’s obviously on the sun. As far as I know, nothing should be transiting across the sun.

That’s not the amazing part. Amazing part is on the top of the sun. You can see what looks like something shot out of the sun. Not sure what that is called in astronomy.

That’s about it. But I do have a question. What is that thing on the top of the sun that’s coming out?

Also, what’s that black spot?

Jared

[KathyNS]

Congratulations on your first view of the Sun!

The black spot will be a sunspot. The Sun has passed its minimum phase of activity, and sunspots are starting to increase. This part of its 11-year (or 22-year) activity cycle.

The light beam is a reflection from something in or on the scope that is catching sunlight and reflecting it.

[Jnicholes]

Congratulations on your first view of the Sun!

The black spot will be a sunspot. The Sun has passed its minimum phase of activity, and sunspots are starting to increase. This part of its 11-year (or 22-year) activity cycle.

The light beam is a reflection from something in or on the scope that is catching sunlight and reflecting it.

I’m referring to the object on top of the sun to the left of that streak.

[Jnicholes]

Seriously, though. Thank you for the help.

[Jnicholes]

THIS is the object I am trying to figure out. Looks like a flare or something.

[Bigzmey]

THIS is the object I am trying to figure out. Looks like a flare or something.

Looks like a solar prominence to me. Not sure though if your setup has enough sensitivity/resolution to capture one.

[Jnicholes]

THIS is the object I am trying to figure out. Looks like a flare or something.

Looks like a solar prominence to me. Not sure though if your setup has enough sensitivity/resolution to capture one.

Thanks for getting back. Some other photos I took today show this too in the same spot. I think I DID captured a solar prominence. Don’t know how, but I did.

[Thefatkitty]

Hi Jared, nice shot! Kathy is right; the black spots on the disk are sunspots. There are actually three separate ones transiting the disc right now, go to Spaceweather.com for daily updates on that.

As for what looks like a solar flare... Not to be a party-pooper, but I highly doubt it; probably a lens smudge/artifact or the like. Solar flares are really only visible in Hydrogen-Alpha wavelengths, not white light.

Just out of curiosity, what make is your aperture filter?

All the best and thanks for the share,

[Jnicholes]

Hi Jared, nice shot! Kathy is right; the black spots on the disk are sunspots. There are actually three separate ones transiting the disc right now, go to Spaceweather.com for daily updates on that.

As for what looks like a solar flare... Not to be a party-pooper, but I highly doubt it; probably a lens smudge/artifact or the like. Solar flares are really only visible in Hydrogen-Alpha wavelengths, not white light.

Just out of curiosity, what make is your aperture filter?

All the best and thanks for the share,

It’s OK, you’re not a party pooper. I’m still learning.

My solar filter, I got it off of Amazon. Reasonably good deal. I’m attaching a link.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01LY1LA ... asin_title

[Thefatkitty]

Hey Jared, nice filter; good for you! Not to bother you with the questions, but what scope/camera do you have?

White light will show faculae when focused, as well as sunspots. I've been at the white light thing for over four years now, and I'm still learning too

This is a good article from Sky and Telescope about white light

I have to say, you picked a good time to get into it; Solar Cycle 25 seems to be kicking in since about March, and if the past cycles still hold true to this one, you've got about another 11 years or so till the Sun quietens down again, and becomes like it's been for the past two years.

All the best,

[Jnicholes]

Hey Jared, nice filter; good for you! Not to bother you with the questions, but what scope/camera do you have?

White light will show faculae when focused, as well as sunspots. I've been at the white light thing for over four years now, and I'm still learning too

This is a good article from Sky and Telescope about white light

I have to say, you picked a good time to get into it; Solar Cycle 25 seems to be kicking in since about March, and if the past cycles still hold true to this one, you've got about another 11 years or so till the Sun quietens down again, and becomes like it's been for the past two years.

All the best,

I have an 80mm refractor with a 900mm focal length. I used a photography app on my Iphone 11 called nightcap. It works miracles for getting pictures of deep space objects. Now I know it works for the sun also!

[Thefatkitty]

That's right; you mentioned that before and I mentioned I had the same scope... It's been a long day here, I'll stop repeating myself

I'll have to look into that app for sure; thanks for the info!

[Ylem]

Very nice Jared!!!
Solar is very addicting!!
Great cell phone capture

[KingNothing13]

Nice image, Jared - thanks for sharing. I need to get our more with my solar filter. There are quite a few sunspots right now, and activity is increasing!

[Graeme1858]

Hello Jared

That's an excellent iPhone captured image.

I moved your Topic to the Solar Images section.

Our "solar heads" will see it here!

Regards

Graeme

[Solsearcher]

It does look very much like a prom but like Bigzmey said this shouldn't happen in white light .

[Jnicholes]

It does look very much like a prom but like Bigzmey said this shouldn't happen in white light .

I agree.

I just discovered that other photos that I took today show it also in slightly DIFFERENT positions.

Like you said, it shouldn’t be possible. I honestly don’t know.

I’ll post those photos in a minute.

[Jnicholes]

You guys were right. I reviewed the photos, and found this.

It was a smudge on the solar filter. See it?

[Solsearcher]

I was imaging today and I did pan around the limb , if I had seen a loop prom I would have tried to image it . That does not mean that one did not appear , they can come and go quickly sometimes .

[TheButcher]

Very Nice!