DEC 17TH - WL - AR2905 TO AR2912, WELL NEARLY.

[paulastro]

It was forecast for 100% cloud today, so of course, it was clear with frost first thing and stayed clear until sunset. We are at over 800 feet altitude and luckily above the fog and mist this morning 😊.

I observed from 8.50am to 9.50am with the Altair 80 ED-R.  According to spaceweather there were six ARs on show, but visually or on a pic I took I couldn't see AR2905 in WL. 

Below is a single frame and a crop I took at 9.19am with the Altair and my Olympus E-M5 Mk11.  I've also added the spaceweather.com illustration and a GONG pic which shows some activity at the location of AR2905.

 

[Peter Drew]

Managed to get a rare look myself this morning.  Despite the forecast, here too was a brilliantly clear start due to being also high enough to be above the fog.

Not the best of views as the Sun is so low now that only half of my aperture is usable plus there was a patch of condensation inside the objective both conspiring to reduce the contrast.  Even so, the caravan train of sunspots was a sight to behold after the recent lack of them.  The Ha view showed a lot of potential for flaring, hope there will be another opportunity before they pass.    🙂 

 

[bomberbaz]

i wanted a bash with my little lunt but by the time I got home the clouds had rolled in, nice image

[BRADLEY 1953]

Very nice grouping Paul. Totally cloudy here for last few days.

[paulastro]

2 hours ago, Peter Drew said:

Managed to get a rare look myself this morning.  Despite the forecast, here too was a brilliantly clear start due to being also high enough to be above the fog.

Not the best of views as the Sun is so low now that only half of my aperture is usable plus there was a patch of condensation inside the objective both conspiring to reduce the contrast.  Even so, the caravan train of sunspots was a sight to behold after the recent lack of them.  The Ha view showed a lot of potential for flaring, hope there will be another opportunity before they pass.    🙂 

 

I'm very pleased you managed to see them Peter.  As you indicate, it's very striking the way they are processing across the sun.  We are urrently enveloped in fog, but I'll still have my scope set up nearby for the next few days 😊.

[paulastro]

2 hours ago, bomberbaz said:

i wanted a bash with my little lunt but by the time I got home the clouds had rolled in, nice image

Thanks baz, I hope the weather improves for you.

[paulastro]

1 hour ago, BRADLEY 1953 said:

Very nice grouping Paul. Totally cloudy here for last few days.

Thank you Chris.  Sorry about you being cloud ridden.  I just got lucky - despite the no-hope forecast.