MAY 20TH - WL - AR3014 - WOW

[paulastro]

Cloud up to 2.45pm, heavy rain with possible thunderstorms forecast.  At this time a blue patch on the horizon appeared.  Hurriedly set up, still raining so put a hood over the scope and camera.  As the blue patch arrived at the Sun, uncovered the scope and the rain stopped.

I'm glad it did, for the twelve minutes I had, starting at 3.13pm, I had moments of the best seeing I have had for at least three weeks. Then the cloud engulfed the sun once more.

AR3014  had changed considerably since the 26 hours since I had last observed it. The two separated ares from yesterday were now one large area.  There were clearly many more small spots within the penumbral region, indicative of the great activity with multiple flares in the last 24 hours.  The detail visually was fabulous, wit the overall shape of a large footprint - to me at least!

The single frame and crop below hardly do it justice.  Taken at 3.21pm, Tecnosky 102ED F7, Olympus E-M5 MK11, 1/400 at 200asa.  Other info from spaceweather.

 

 

 

[mikeDnight]

Looks like a Klingon Bird of Prey to me, but its a nice pic all the same. 

[paulastro]

20 minutes ago, mikeDnight said:

Looks like a Klingon Bird of Prey to me, but its a nice pic all the same. 

Thanks Mike, it could have been one of those too 😅. Let's hope not!  😱

Edited May 20, 2022 by paulastro

[Peter Drew]

I caught what must have been the same blue patch as you did Paul.  No time to set up the big "gun" but had one of my best views so far for its size with a 60mm Coronado front etalon that I had just that moment fitted to a 72mm Megrez.    🙂

[Pete Presland]

Well done for grabbing an image, another tough day today.

[paulastro]

1 hour ago, Peter Drew said:

I caught what must have been the same blue patch as you did Paul.  No time to set up the big "gun" but had one of my best views so far for its size with a 60mm Coronado front etalon that I had just that moment fitted to a 72mm Megrez.    🙂

I'm pleased you had the same period of good seeing Peter.  It was good wasn't it.  I also keep an eye on HA with my loaned PST.

[paulastro]

1 minute ago, Pete Presland said:

Well done for grabbing an image, another tough day today.

Thank you Peter.  It was a short but very sweet session!

[BRADLEY 1953]

Wow indeed! that is one massive AR, keep them coming.

[paulastro]

24 minutes ago, BRADLEY 1953 said:

Wow indeed! that is one massive AR, keep them coming.

Thanks Chris, I'll try, weather permiting.

[paulastro]

According to spaceweather.com AR3014 is visible with the naked eye, with the correct protection of course.