New record for Solar minimum

[Thefatkitty]

I usually check Spaceweather.com on a frequent basis, in hopes of some spots. Of course, the weather would have to cooperate as well.

Seems over the weekend the Sun broke a record for spotlessness held since the start of the Space Age in 1957. Another Maunder minimum? I guess we'll have to see over the next 70 years....

The last time this year I had good weather and an active Sol was April 13 of this year, with AR2738. There have been a few others, but either it was cloudy, or if I did catch it, you'd need a magnifying glass to see it!

AR2738.png

I wonder if Solar filters have dropped in price at all

Hope you're having clear skies!

[bladekeeper]

Maybe a Maunder Minimum, but it is also a Classic Curtain of Cloud Covering Curtailment.

I haven't even seen the Sun for days now. Just a dreary and low grey ceiling of abysmal.

Say, I remember that sunspot!

20190414 14_21_15_g4_ap10083 by Bryan Gabbard, on Flickr

[Thefatkitty]

Maybe a Maunder Minimum, but it is also a Classic Curtain of Cloud Covering Curtailment.

I haven't even seen the Sun for days now. Just a dreary and low grey ceiling of abysmal.

Say, I remember that sunspot!

CCCCC? Well said and your sky sounds exactly like mine. Shared weather.... Anyone else?;)

That's a great picture! I'm figuring that was your SV102 and a glass filter? I love the color! And I think by the dates on your and my picture, the clear skies moved south and a bit west after I had my turn.....

All the best buddy,

[bladekeeper]

CCCCC? Well said and your sky sounds exactly like mine. Shared weather.... Anyone else?;)

That's a great picture! I'm figuring that was your SV102 and a glass filter? I love the color! And I think by the dates on your and my picture, the clear skies moved south and a bit west after I had my turn.....

All the best buddy,

Yeah, that would have been the SV102T, ASI174MC, and Thousand Oaks film. I really wish I could dig out some granularity like you get. I need more practice with the Day Orb, I reckon.

I think the Sun would be much more photogenic at night. Not sure how to make that happen though...

[Don Quixote]

I think the Sun would be much more photogenic at night. Not sure how to make that happen though...

I do it remotely Bryan with my cam and tele set up in Hong Kong. I can take pics of the Sun all night long.

[Altocumulus]

Thanks for er, rubbing it in!

Perhaps someone ought to tell Lunt Systems their telescopes might not show anything for (what!) 70 years!

[Steveinit]

Any time y'all wanna stop posting awesome images I'd need a lot more gear to replicate would be great That's really awesome!

[Thefatkitty]

Any time y'all wanna stop posting awesome images I'd need a lot more gear to replicate would be great That's really awesome!

Hey Steve, no actually, for me it did not take a lot. An old C80 telescope, a piece of Baader solar film (less than $50) and some thin plastic, cardboard, and duct tape

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Image001.png

I remove the dew shield to use the filter. Bryan uses a glass filter, which gives the Sun that cool yellow.

The Baader is probably the cheapest way to go for looking at/photographing our star. Your ST80 would be good for that, as well as your 6", though I don't think you could take pics with the dob. One sheet would do for both scopes with some left over. The 6" would not even need a full aperture filter.
With my sheet, I made filter for my 60mm, 80mm, and 102mm, and there's enough left for another 60mm. Fun project with very satisfying results. Best part is, there's all of us here if you need a hand!

All the best,

[Lowjiber]

Any time y'all wanna stop posting awesome images I'd need a lot more gear to replicate would be great That's really awesome!

Steve, looking at your signature I see that you have an ST80. That is a perfect scope to duplicate TFK's project above. I've shot plenty of solar images with one of those puppies.

There's lots of help here... just ask.

BTW: Solar imaging can become addictive. Tread lightly my friend.

Clear Skies

[Star Dad]

Ha! I haven't seen a sunspot in years. I've been watching the trend of very few (if any) spots. The earth will cool - and perhaps enter a mini ice age. Something to think about if temps are warm in the winter. Wait till the spots return + global warming will = 3-5 degree Centigrade increase in temp. NASA keeps on saying that we are in a normal cycle, but we should have started seeing an increase in spots by now. Maybe we will get some breathing room to get our pollution under control? Or will it just encourage the polluters to keep throwing chemicals that can kill us into the air by claiming that science is wrong?

[notFritzArgelander]

Ha! I haven't seen a sunspot in years. I've been watching the trend of very few (if any) spots. The earth will cool - and perhaps enter a mini ice age. Something to think about if temps are warm in the winter. Wait till the spots return + global warming will = 3-5 degree Centigrade increase in temp. NASA keeps on saying that we are in a normal cycle, but we should have started seeing an increase in spots by now. Maybe we will get some breathing room to get our pollution under control? Or will it just encourage the polluters to keep throwing chemicals that can kill us into the air by claiming that science is wrong?

Well.... global warming is too severe for a mini ice age. The best that can be hoped for is a little more breathing room so we can get our climate denying politicians dumped or re-educated so we don't commit the species suicide to which they are leading us.

[Altocumulus]

I always fear that if Politicians make the decisions we could end up pushing the balance too far the other way and we rapidly cool!

[notFritzArgelander]

I always fear that if Politicians make the decisions we could end up pushing the balance too far the other way and we rapidly cool!

I think we are safe against that. There's so much warming baked in ( ) due to emissions history that net cooling is off the table. The timescale for natural processing of CO2 (and methane from oceanic clathrate sublimation and permafrost thaw) is so long the politicians can't induce net cooling.