Solar Imaging Session - March 6, 2010 (Numerous Dark Filaments)

Hello:

With AR 11051 Sunspot Group totally decayed, only AR 11052 and AR 11053 Sunspot Groups are the sunspot groups left visible on the solar limb. And with both of them at the extreme edge of the SW limb, tomorrow might be another "sunspot-less day" for the third time this year :(

Amid the disappearance of the sunspot groups, numerous dark filaments replaced the sunspot groups on the surface of the Sun today. The most beautiful one being on the NE limb :)

Solar Imaging Session - March 4, 2010

Hello:

The sky this morning is ok and seeing is again fair. AR 11045 Sunspot Group had deteriorated already but in Ha light, I could still see some small activity as well as a nice S shaped Dark Filament behind the group. A large eruptive prominences can also be seen near the group in the NE limb.

AR 11051 has also shrunk and activity even in Ha light is also very minimal :( But AR 11052 and AR 11053 Sunspot Groups , although small in size, are very active with lots of bright plages as the 2 groups are near the SW limb already.

Overall, activity in the Sun is starting to calm down a bit in terms of number of large eruptive prominences compared to 2 weeks ago.

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