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Active Region (Sunspot) 10069 on 14 August 2002
by Ed Abel
Active Region 10069 on August 14, 2002

Full Disc Image Full Disc Image
Full Solar Disc Images in White Light
 Taken Afocally through 40mm Eyepiece


Montage of AR 10069 in Different Spectrums
Montage of AR10069 in Different Spectrums

Ed Abel Captures Notable Sunspot

AR's 0030 and 0031
Combine to Form Region 15 Earth Diameters Long
Notable Active Region AR 0030/0031 Possible Filament
White Light Image from 16 July 2002 made with VESTA web cam and 8" SCT
 Study the Highlighted Area of the image. Could Ed have capture a filament?
Full Disc in Hydrogen Alpha Full Disc in Visible Spectrum
AR 0030 / 0031 Plainly Visible as Bright Yellow Region in Hydrogen Alpha Image
 Here is Visible Spectrum Image from 16 July 2002

What a Difference A Day Makes!
Same AR's Next Day 17 July 17 July 2002 AR 0030 / 0031
Same Regions at Approx. Same Time the Next Day 17 July  
 Another frame from Same Series
Full Disc in Visible Spectrum Image from 16 July for Comparison
Full Disc in Visible Light
 Image from the 16 July Series for Comparison

GAMMA "Stretch" Brings Out Hidden Structure


Gamma Adjustment Brings Out Hidden Structure I played with the Philips Gamma level in the top SCT row of images.It resulted in increased contrast in the dark area surrounding the outer edge of the penumbra. This was very apparent in the images seen on the monitor. I increased above normal (that is, above my previously used levels)the Philips-controlled Gamma setting in the captured top two SCT images today and was surprised at both the increased contrast in the outer portion of the penumbra, as well as the greater definition in its feather-like appearance. Granulation surrounding the spot also appeared to a slightly greater degree when compared with the bottom, "normal" Gamma setting, images.The 700MM refractor was also used to supply the sunspot position (top right image).

Ed Abel

Study of Focal Length vs Field of View

Field of View vs Focal Length Study      "Lunch time view of Sunspot AR9845 on 4 Mar. 2002. Thanks to Ron Lee, I imaged today's sunspot with two additional optics: Ron's 500mm camera lens piggy-backed onto the scope, and the club's 700mm refractor attached to the SCT as a guide scope. "Prime Focus" was used as with the SCT. Needless to say, there was an "image capture" learning curve associated with the two additional systems.
      Especially difficult was focusing these two manually controlled lenses.There was no electrical focus control which meant constant manual adjustment and checking the result. A laptop would have saved the steps from the deck to the PC inside the sunroom. If these optics would continue, that is a requirement. 
      Secondly, based on my previous sensor size calculations I had hoped, with the Philips Camera and the 500mm lens, to be able to have a FOV exceeding the Sun's diameter. Since that didn't happen (probably less than 50% diameter), and since the Sun probably is still around 30 minutes of arc today (anybody notice a REALLY big change?), I believe that the Philips sensor isn't 6.4mm square as first thought, but less than half that size.  Comments? Back to the drawing board." Ed

Historic Spot

Full Solar Disk with AR9393 Close Up Using 2x Barlow


"These photographs were taken on April 3rd, 2001 at approx. 12:30 PM EST. The subject was Active Region 9393 the largest sunspot to appear in the current solar cycle. Later that day, the region spawned the strongest solar flare in recorded history. The full disk image on the left above was taken at prime focus through my Meade LX10 208mm SCT telescope, F10 2000mm FL. Solar filter used was a Thousand Oaks Type 2+. The close up image on the right  was made with the addition of a 2x barlow. Film was Fuji Provia 200 asa, camera body was an Olympus OM-1 and the exposure time was 1/250th for the full disk image and 1/125th for the high magnification detail. The 35mm slides were scanned to 7200 dpi resolution on an Umax Powerlook III and sharpened before being converted to jpg format. I have found that the exposures given in the tables of Michael Covington's book "Astrophotography for the Amateur" to result in under-exposure by more than two f stops when used. This is also a problem using when using software like "Skyphoto" to calculate exposures when using solar filters. Even when I've doubled check that the filter factor was entered correctly. I have found that using Covington's exposures and setting shutter speed two stops slower (1000th sec becomes 1/250th) to be a successful strategy. Still, be sure to bracket those important exposures!" John

Active Region Tracking Project

Fellow solar enthusiast Ed Abel has been working with the Philips Vesta PCVC675K web cam to produce a record of the evolution of an Active Region (sunspot group) as it moves across the sun. He would like to make a montage documenting a regions evolution as it crosses the Sun. Given the weather in the Washington, DC metro area, this is quite a challenge. Ed's most recent efforts have been on AR9822. His series of images is below.


Hello Shot AR9822 Feb 9 2002

Hello AR9822

Ed's caption for the image contains a typo. It is actually AR9822 Just coming into view over the east limb of the Sun on 9 Feb 2002.
Limb Distortion

11 Feb 2002

Is Something Really There in the Upper Left Corner? Unprocessed Image on Left / Sharpened in Photoshop Image on Right Is a new AR coming behind 9822 or is this a processing artifact?
Clouds Obscured Sun all day, No Image Possible

12 Feb 2002
AR9802 on 2/13

13 Feb 2002


Ed writes: "Inspite of high clouds, AR9822 shows some growth. SOHO images still unavailable."
AR9822 Comparison 2/11 to 2/13

Comparison of 11 Feb Images to 13 Feb Images

Ed writes: "Today's images really "suck" because, I hope, of the turbulence. Even when the wind isn't making the image gyrate furiously across the CCD chip as it tosses the scope, the variable seeing removes all detail crispness.That said, yes, I would hope to build a composite of each day's image. See todays below." Ed
AR9822 Vanishes AR9825 Takes Spotlight
Images Through Mylar Filter on Left / Images through Thousand Oaks Type 2 Glass Filter on Right Above

14 Feb 2002

AR9822 Disappears
"John, AR9822 seems to have dissipated while becoming AR9825 in this the first SOHO in over a week. Oh well... I've cleaned the CCD sensor (with GREAT fear) and it seems to have removed a lot of gunk that had built up. Last week I had used a commercial can of air in an attempt to clean it. When I watched the air flow from the nozzle, I could actually see it! My guess is that it had condensation in it and that "set" the dust on the sensor (dirt circles on a car after a rain?). The first Jupiters of the night last night had 30 or 40 moons all over the place! I cleaned them off! The later images (attached) are much improved. Dust bunnies are gone!" Ed
Clouds Obscured the Sun all Day No Image Possible

15 Feb 2002
Saturday 2/16/2002

16 Feb 2002

"Attached is a collage of the 2/16/02 sunspots we have been watching. As far as I am concerned, I don't see any AR9822 anymore even though that nomenclature still appears on SOHO's image.We now have AR9824 and AR9825. It appears that 9825 has diminished in size from just two days ago. I used the Red channel in Photoshop to bring out the Granulation detail in the Mylar image (top left). I am wondering if I have some scope tube/camera adapter reflection as can be seen by increased brightness on the left-side of the Mylar image."  Ed
Multiple Filter Images of AR

Color Filter Study

"John, I have to study what the various color filters do.This is the first time I've compared multiple filters on the same image. The granulation patterns are a real surprise with the "polarizing", Red and Orange filters. These were imaged with the "auto light" Vega feature selected. I should have also seen what the "outdoor" light feature would have done." Ed
Cloudy All Day, Sorry

17 Feb 2002

Sun Obscured by Clouds No Imaging Possible
Monday 18 Feb 2002

18 Feb 2002

"John, Attached are Monday's clear sky views. Enjoy AR9824, AR9825 as we say good-bye near the limb for now." Ed
Tuesday 19 Feb 2002

19 Feb 2002

"John, This morning's sunspots: There is a totally different set of features visible when the sunspots are at the limb.It seems that the surface has much more depth and I assume that the faculae are much more visible. Compare the depth of the top two images with the seemingly "flat" bottom images. But also note the small, very thin wisp of a sunspot "line" right below where I annotated an "A" on the bottom left image." I think we've seen the last of AR9824 and AR9825 on this rotation.They will be out of our view tomorrow." Ed

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