April 20, 2014, 09:00-9:20: Big proms on the western limb

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

Just had a look starting 09:00 with the LS35 and a massive pair of proms was visible on the western limb. Northwards a very long structure, looking like a fire tornado on serious steroids can be seen stretching and twisting a significant way from the limb. It's one of the longest proms I have seen in a long time. Unfortunately, by 9:20 it has faded to a faint ghost-like structure hovering some way from the disk. To the south, a broader set of proms, consisting of a more elongated one and a fan-like plume to its south could be seen. By 9:20 the fan seems to have lengthened, and become slightly lower in surface brightness, whereas the elongated one is broadening a bit at the tip. In between these to big proms a smaller prom of good surface brightness could be seen. A few more proms (lower,maybe based just beyond the limb) can be seen on the eastern limb.

Nice start to a sunny Easter Sunday

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

Update, 09:40: The northwestern prom which at first seemed to have faded is now visible as a huge complex of thin structures forming a delicate arc, the northern part of which seems to be twisting in complex ways. The southwestern prom seems to be fading a bit.  Southwards on the eastern limb a peculiar triangular prom is visible. Close to it on the disk a very prominent filament is visible. Great entertainment

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

Update 9:55: Played with the tuning of the etalon a bit more. The southwestern big prom is brighter and looks more branched now. Northwestern big prom is slightly Doppler-shifted with respect to the southwestern one. Several knots appearing in the top of the arc of the big northwestern prom. Northeast, another arc is developing, but much smaller, but less thin

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

Update 10:10: The northwestern arc seems to have dissipated or collapsed. A bright structure at its southernmost base seems to be developing rapidly. It first looked like a linear structure sticking out at a shallow angle with respect to the limb. In now seems to consist of two main structures, sticking out at right angles to the surface, with a detached blob in between. Appears to be growing fast

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

10:15: Fast indeed; they have formed a new arc, which is shooting away from the sun rapidly!

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

10:25: I have never seen things move so fast on the sun. Between 10:15 and 10:20 the arc could be seen growing visibly, doubling its size in 5 minutes. Around 10:20 the southern tendril linking the arc to the surface seemed to collapse and fall back onto the surface, an a bright knot at the tip seemed to detach. A bright knot in the northern arm of the arc seemed to move back to the surface. At the base of the collapsed southern arm a bright knot formed, which has now developed into a bright prom point southwards at an angle of some 20 degrees with the limb. Spectacular goings on.

[Luke]

Clouded out here, Michael, but it's exciting to read your posts!

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

10:30: The new structure at the base of the arc is now the major feature in that region. The angle with the limb seems to be closer to 35 deg now. Very bright. At 10:32 a branch seems to be developing pointing southwards, parallel to the limb. The detached knot of the former arc can only just be made out, and the northern arm of the arc is now a thin, twisted prom.

Time for a shower now.

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

11:00: Things seemed to have calmed down. The bright structure at the base of the former arc is still there, but looks quite quiet, having lost much of its brightness.

Best morning of solar observing in a while. I am off to the in-laws in a moment, but will take the LS35 along.

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

11:15: The structure at the base of the former arc has all but vanished

[Pig]

Nice time lapse reporting Michael   Please keep it up as we have wall to wall cloud here and if that isn't bad enough rain is forecast later

As a result of our misfortune you are not allowed to have dinner today as you have to commit yourself to keeping us updated with all activity ( sending a link to a solar site is not acceptable as we already have them).

Happy Easter

Shaun

[Umbraldot]

Nice report. I'm judging UT is probably 2 hours behind your time?

Started my observation at 0840 UT and concluded 0900 UT. Active prominence on the NW limb in the form of a long elongated triangle leaning south. By0900 this had faded somewhat. Nice crooked spire on the SW limb and four prominence hearths scattered along the eastern limb.

The semi circular filament around AR2038 is still present but seems to be in the process of breaking up. A long dark filament underscores AR2044 and a filament runs through AR2035 with some associated plage - could be worth monitoring.

In white light, 10 groups counted 4 north; 6 south; R = 161. 7 prominence hearths; 9 filaments.

[pragmatist]

Raining here today but very interesting reports. Just out of interest I wonder if anybody saw BBC4 last night about solar storms?

Wonderful program.

[Umbraldot]

Raining here today but very interesting reports. Just out of interest I wonder if anybody saw BBC4 last night about solar storms?

Wonderful program.

No sadly I missed that.

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

Fairly quiet now. Will check the sun from tome to time. All times are central European summer time.

[pragmatist]

No sadly I missed that.

BBC i player BBC4

[Umbraldot]

BBC i player BBC4

Yep that occurred to me the moment I posted. Wish we could edit!

[Byz1453]

Lovely reports all.

I spent most of the day set up, grabbing as much time as I could in between the chores my wife had lined up.

Much as Michael described until approx 15.30 CET when there was a huge eruption on the north western limb at about the 10 o'clock position.

Just watching it develop was a real privilege, the only way I can describe it was that it was like a Phoenix rising out of the sun. There was a small column in the centre rising out of a very bright patch with two arches coming out either side like wings.

I played between single and double stack and was able to see very bright fine lines shooting out like a firework.

It all developed over the space of about 45 minutes and was gone by 16.15.

Truly amazing to see that unfold in front of my eyes.

What a lovely day.

Kieran

[Umbraldot]

Lovely reports all.

I spent most of the day set up, grabbing as much time as I could in between the chores my wife had lined up.

Much as Michael described until approx 15.30 CET when there was a huge eruption on the north western limb at about the 10 o'clock position.

Just watching it develop was a real privilege, the only way I can describe it was that it was like a Phoenix rising out of the sun. There was a small column in the centre rising out of a very bright patch with two arches coming out either side like wings.

I played between single and double stack and was able to see very bright fine lines shooting out like a firework.

It all developed over the space of about 45 minutes and was gone by 16.15.

Truly amazing to see that unfold in front of my eyes.

What a lovely day.

Kieran

I knew as soon as I packed up for the day something would happen! Just checked the solar disk and all quiet.

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

Lovely reports all.

I spent most of the day set up, grabbing as much time as I could in between the chores my wife had lined up.

Much as Michael described until approx 15.30 CET when there was a huge eruption on the north western limb at about the 10 o'clock position.

Just watching it develop was a real privilege, the only way I can describe it was that it was like a Phoenix rising out of the sun. There was a small column in the centre rising out of a very bright patch with two arches coming out either side like wings.

I played between single and double stack and was able to see very bright fine lines shooting out like a firework.

It all developed over the space of about 45 minutes and was gone by 16.15.

Truly amazing to see that unfold in front of my eyes.

What a lovely day.

Kieran

Missed that. Oh well, can't win em all

[Steve Ward]

That region , 12032 ? , was definitely not going out quietly , from around 0600 on the 19th until about 1500 today it was throwing off matter on a regular basis , one of the angriest areas I have seen for a long while.

Am just waiting for JHelioviewer to finish another video of the time period , shall post as soon as it's ready ... 

[Steve Ward]

At long last YT has taken it .... 

Data courtesy of NASA/SDO and the EVE , AIA and HMI science teams .

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

Great video.