Solar activity, Feb 4th

[Starman]

Hi all,

Here are a couple of shots of the Sun taken on the 4th Feb. A large mammoth shaped prominence was present on the south-western limb.

(A larger version of the full disk is available from here

http://www.digitalsky.org.uk/solar/2008/2008-02-04_11-54_full-disk_H-alpha.jpg )

Full disk...

Mammoth prom close-up (stand on your head to see the mammoth)

[trevboyd]

Wow! They are spectacular!

Trev

[LaVey]

very nice shots!!!

I want a pst..

[Trevor]

Crikey look’s like the Sun is at the start of an Ice Age, great shot Pete.

[jgs001]

Very nice images Pete. The mammoth stands clear and proud....

[barkis]

A very awe inspiring image Pete. Could you explain what Chromospheric shots are,? I am a total NumbNut when it comes to solar stuff.

Ron.

[Starman]

Hi Ron,

Basically I mean surface when I say "photospheric" and the edge bit with the proms in it when I say "chromospheric".

[Tiny]

I wish the sun would just come out. Really Nice image though it's upside down .

[barkis]

Hi Ron,

Basically I mean surface when I say "photospheric" and the edge bit with the proms in it when I say "chromospheric".

Thank you for the explanation Pete. It has added to my limited Solar vocabulary.

[winfij]

Stunning Pete - I wouldn't have guessed that was a mosaic - you've done a perfect job at the stitching.

John

[Sam]

That's a very busy sun - well done on capturing it. Looks like a big one to.

[beamish]

Stunning pic Pete, and terrific prominence !!

Karlo

[rawhead]

very nice shots!!!

I want a pst..

I second those comments

[Astroman]

That's a very busy sun - well done on capturing it. Looks like a big one to.

Actually, this is a quiet Sun in the extreme. Check out the image mosaic from SOHO, showing the progression of the last solar cycle. It's in ultraviolet, but you still get the idea.

http://sohowww.nascom.nasa.gov/hotshots/2007_12_02/304cycle_dates.jpg

[Sam]

That's a very busy sun - well done on capturing it. Looks like a big one to.

Actually, this is a quiet Sun in the extreme. Check out the image mosaic from SOHO, showing the progression of the last solar cycle. It's in ultraviolet, but you still get the idea.

http://sohowww.nascom.nasa.gov/hotshots/2007_12_02/304cycle_dates.jpg

ok Astroman, fair point - but it looked busy to me - That's quite a neat link, really gives an indication of how much things change.

[Astroman]

Absolutely, LB! Didn't intend to step on any toes, right?

I always felt, if people knew how much actually flies off the Sun in an active phase, most of them would be living underground. :shock:

In the SOHO link above, notice the uniformity of Sol in 1996 and 2006. Notice how much diversity there is at peak in 2001. That's the key. Even in 2005 you can see the twisting of the magnetic field on Sol by the darker lanes, although there are no bright regions visible.

Fascinating.