Solar Imaging Session - March 3, 2010

Hello:

Today's solar activity is a bit bore with AR 11051 Sunspot Group showing some small activity inside its core while AR 11052 and AR 11053 Sunspot Group looks the same as yesterday's image.

AR 11045 Sunspot Group didn't get its new AR 11054 designation yet as it seems it lose all its sunspot group but the group still shows some small activity inside its core. A moderate sized eruptive prominence can be seen near the AR 11045 limb area.

Solar Imaging Session - March 2, 2010 (3 New Sunspot Groups)

Hello:

The sky this morning is again clear and seeing is fair. AR 11051 Sunspot Group is starting to lose its activity inside its core . Solar prominences today are also not that big :( But today's attention turn to returning AR 11045 Sunspot Group (newly designated AR 11054) near the NE limb as well as 2 new sunspot group , AR 11052 and AR 11053 , near the SW limb.

Hoping these new groups will grow in size in the days to come.

Solar Imaging Session - March 1, 2010

Hello:

The sky this morning is fair. The Sun this morning is a bit quiet as most of the large eruptive prominences are all gone except for a moderate sized eruptive prominence that is visible in the NW limb. AR 11051 still display some activities inside its core.

Solar Imaging Session - February 28, 2010 (Large Eruptive Prominence !)

Hello:

I was able to image the Sun again this morning as the sky is partially ok. Seeing is fair as well. The large eruptive prominence in NW yesterday can still be seen beautifully although it is starting to deteriorate already a bit. The large prominence in the SW has deteriorated greatly but small traces of the prominence can still be seen.

AR 11050 Sunspot Group is exiting the western limb while AR 11051's activity also seems to settle down a bit compare to yesterday's activity.

As anticipated, we got a complete "sunspot month" as we ended February with a complete month of at least one or more sunspot visible on the Sun's disk :) Yahoo!

Clubman 500mm f/8 mirror lens

Hello:

I got to buy a second hand Clubman 50mm f/8 mirror lens from a second hand camera store and test it on the Gibbous Moon. Image quality is fair but nopt that sharp IMHO. my ETX90AT can beat this lens anytime. But for the compactness of this lens (just 3" in length and 72mm in diameter), it can't be beat! Using this lens require a tripod because of its slow f/8.

I plan to still keep this lens for total solar eclipse backup lens for my trip to China or Australia perhaps :) LOL

Solar Imaging Session - February 27, 2010 (Huge Eruptive Prominences !!!)

Hello:

The sky this morning is ok and seeing is also fair. I was able to view several huge eruptive prominences in the NW and SW limb of the Sun! AR 11050 can still be seen nearing the western limb while AR 11051 continues to show nice activity inside its core.

The Sun is starting to be active again as for the month of February, there are sunspots on the surface of the Sun and with only one day left in February with both AR 11050 and AR 11051 still visible, this will be a record of sorts for these past years as the last time there was a complete "sunspot month", meaning there is at least one sunspot group visible everyday for the whole month, it was way back in January 2007! Gee, maybe in 2011 or 2012, there will be more "sunspot months" on a regular basis. IMHO.

Solar Imaging Session - February 22, 2010 ( Numerous Large Eruptive Prominences!)

Hello:

With the conclusion of the National Astronomy Week celebration last Saturday, I can now start to image the Sun again but unfortunately, I will going to my provincial work trip in Laoag and Baguio tonight so I didn't waste the opportunity to observe the Sun this morning. AR 11049 grows in size a bit but is nearing the SW limb. Numerous large eruptive prominences can be seen in all 4 quadrants of the Sun with the largest one in the NW limb. There were 2 possible active region development on the Sun with the larger one near the center frame of the SE limb while the other smaller one can be seen in the NE limb.

I will be back in Manila on Saturday to continue to image the Sun again :)