H-alpha - 17th March

[Qualia]

Okay, I'm going to bore you guys silly But I promise, bad weather is upon us and I guess this will be the last observation for at least a week or so

The active region still looks fantastic and the solar limb extruded gorgeous prominences, especially those at about 2 o'clock and 9 o'clock on the sketch. The former took the shape of a magician's hat whilst the latter were two bright, fang-like flames.

I tried to measure the 2 o'clock prominence with the Baader Micro Guide and guesstimated that its height was between 50,000km to 60,000km; pretty mind blowing to consider that about 5 earths could be stacked along its length. Several other explosions of hot plasma stuff fizzled over the solar limb. The prominence at just gone 3 o'clock looped in an arc while the other at about 8 o'clock seemed to levitate above the limb. Seeing was also calm enough to discern a halo of faint protrusions everywhere.

There appeared to be three active regions. AR 2297 swarmed with bright plage and snaking filaments around a prominent sun spot and a few darker pores or spots. To its north and over at 1 o'clock were other active regions, smaller but no less gorgeous. 

The sketch was made using chalks, finger tips and a brush to smooth out textures. Needless to say, these sketches are not aiming to be of photographic quality    or even trying to depict all the possible visual information witnessed at the eyepiece. It's more an excerise in trying to capture the blazing beauty of the Sun.

 

[ghostdance]

Another lovely Sol Ain't she great....

And beautiful colours and detail even on my mobile.

Is the paper that texture, or is it my screen playing up and giving me lines? Nice effect tho, like a canvas...

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

Nice report and sketch!

[Qualia]

Thank you for the kind replies and thanks

Ghostdance, the problem I have is that the original sketches only bear a resemblance to those I photo. I'm not too sure what is going wrong but I guess it's half the process, not only sketching but making the image presentable. The paper is black and quite course so the chalk can be rubbed in with ease. I have some shinny black paper which is great for night sketching but useless for the h-alpha. Needless to say, the main problem is that I simply can't draw, so I will just have to keep working at it

[ghostdance]

You can't draw?! Ahem...

(... assumes best Wooster manner..)

Come, come old thing, your sketches are among the best I've clapped the old globes on - your stuff has been very instrumental in getting even an all-thumbs-bent-fingered-squint-eyed whatnot like me to have a jolly good go!

Can't draw, tsk