Sun spike - July 21st

[Starman]

Not something you'd want to sit on!

This was lurking in the darkness today. Took a bit of pulling out to be honest but it has recorded fairly well. It extended an amazing height above the limb!

[Ant]

That's a long long way from the Sun. Well captured Pete.

Any idea what causes these?

Ant

[Starman]

Not really Ant. It must be the usual active region process hurling stuff up into the chromosphere but it's unusual to see such a thin, jet like structure. It's a bit weird to be honest.

[Jamie]

I was observing the sun today and thought i could see something like you have imaged but at the time thought that it was just a stray reflection of sorts. Nice capture Pete...

The sun was quite busy around its outer limb today. I observed 4 main prominences (more than usual)

There was also quite a long filament and some surface disturbance as well.

All in all a good days solar observing. (sorry for hijacking your thread Pete)

[Starman]

Not at all Jamie. I'm just processing the filament shots now. The active region, AR11000 changed enormously throughout the day.

[barkis]

Just like a flaming arrow from a bow. Very strange one. Not that I'm an expert of course.

There seems to be what I can only describe as interference fringes. Are these perhaps caused by the filters used to capture these images.?

Ron.

[Starman]

You can get Newton Rings effects Ron but it may just be the subtle tonal graduation giving your monitor a hard time.

[barkis]

Ah! that I can believe Pete, my lappy screen gives me a hard time whatever I'm looking at.

Wouldn't it be great having an inch thick CRT on a laptop.

[Starman]

I know the problem well Ron!

Here's a sequence of images showing the rapid changes in AR11000 today...

[barkis]

That's a lot of movement in 6 hours, and an avi sequence over that time would be something. Although these are pretty close time wise, apart from the first one.

Ron.

[Starman]

The clouds stopped any long term animation sequences unfortunately. I would estimate you'd need a gap of 30-60s to get a good fluid motion.

[steppenwolf]

Weird or not, Pete, it is a fascinating image and well spotted.