November 23, 2020: The sun is definitely waking up

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

Just had a short solar H-alpha session during my morning tea break, and was treated to a nice detailed view of the big AR just below the centre of the disk, showing a big sunspot and some trailing curling swirls of bright plage on band, and a series of smaller sunspots off band. More surprisingly, I spotted another AR, which looks even bigger on the south-eastern limb, with a sizeable sunspot leading the charge, and an even bigger one just on the limb. Dark filaments and bright plage surround them. I also spotted a few small proms on the southern limb. Pity I don't have any imaging gear at work, but still a very ice visual session with the Coronado SolarMax-II 60

[Fozzie]

That is a  monster that's appeared on the limb..  Activity is on the up for sure..  Thanks for the the post and update!  Might follow suit and bring in my WL set up to work over the next few days..

[Mark at Beaufort]

Yes just had a look with the PST. I notice that the large new spot has been numbered AR2785. There is a lot going on in Ha at the moment so will now attach the double stack to get more detail. Later will observe in WL.

[Davey-T]

Sunny earlier but clouded over before I had a chance to look, hoping for clear tomorrow.

Dave

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

There is actually another active area (not officially an AR perhaps) on the northern hemisphere, east of the the meridian. There is a distinct plage area with a little dark filament visible.

[Luke]

It was a real treat this morning when I looked in white light to be greeted by that big spot on the limb! In h-alpha there was a reasonable sort of double prom not too far away. And in the area behind the big spot were a couple of stumpy bits sticking out.

It's very exciting to be early in the new solar cycle with a decent spot hopefully a taste of things to come!

🎉

Edited November 23, 2020 by Luke

[Peter Drew]

I spotted this on GONG this morning but as usual the part of the sky occupied by the Sun was cloudy.  Not long after I got to the Astronomy Centre the Sun appeared, I quickly fired up my solar telescope which has its own observatory and was just centering the image when a huge bank of fog appeared from nowhere and that was that for the day.  No more Sun forecast until Thursday.     ☹️

[dhkaiser]

Todays sun in WL and Ha...

[paulastro]

16 hours ago, Peter Drew said:

I spotted this on GONG this morning but as usual the part of the sky occupied by the Sun was cloudy.  Not long after I got to the Astronomy Centre the Sun appeared, I quickly fired up my solar telescope which has its own observatory and was just centering the image when a huge bank of fog appeared from nowhere and that was that for the day.  No more Sun forecast until Thursday.     ☹️

I know how you feel Peter.

[Mark at Beaufort]

Just been viewing the Sun with the PST+DS. There is a huge amount of activity around AR2785 and especially AR2786 with bright Plage. We also have AR2783 which has some Plage. In addition there is some small filaments around the surface + some Proms.

This is one of the best views in Ha for some time. Its pretty good in WL as well.

[Davey-T]

Still no clear here to view it, hope some appears before it disappears off the other limb.

Daved