First ever solar image

[Skipper Billy]

I have recently become somewhat interested in solar viewing and maybe imaging. (largely because there is no prospect of night time imaging for at least another couple of months this far north).

This afternoon I put a solar film that I originally bought for my ED80 over one side of a pair of 15x70 binos and I am embarrassed to say its the first time I have ever seen the sun and I was amazed !!! I could clearly see sunspots - it was great!!!

So whilst I was enthused I popped the filter over a 40 year old Super Takumar 200mm prime lens on a Canon 1100D and lined up and clattered away.

By trial and error I found an acceptable exposure and I am reasonably happy with the result - this is heavily cropped - I haven't got anything longer than 200mm lenses except my scopes but (I am going to show my ignorance now !!!) how do you polar align in the daylight ???  

Be gentle .........

[Bizibilder]

And a very good image it is too!  Well done and welcome to the light side!

[xtreemchaos]

lovely first sol image.thanks for sharing..charl.

[Pig]

Great shot, you can use the sun to align your scope using shadows.

http://bodzashphotoastro.blogspot.co.uk/2010/09/easy-polar-alignment-in-daytime.html

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

Excellent first image, very nice for a telephoto shot

[Snaxmuppet]

... how do you polar align in the daylight ???  

solar1.jpg

Great pic.

I am just about to start trying to do some solar imaging myself and I am still trying to get my head around polar aligning in the daytime. Obviously you can't us Polaris (DOH!) so it is good enough to just align visually to north using a compass on the basis that all solar imaging will need fast exposures so any misalignment shouldn't be a problem???

Looks like you are making a good start... I hope I do as well on my first attempt

[Pete Presland]

Well done on your 1st image.

[David Smith]

Great first shot!