The Dutch Observatory

Here the images of 2013-01-20

I’ve fallen behind in posting my solar images here in my blog. (shame on me)  So now need to catch up.  Here images of the 18th and 19th.

A clear Sky this morning.  The Sun showed 14 active regions although they were not very intense, but a very busy view.  I also finished my Baader 3.8 filter for my Celestron C11.  So today was first light for the new photo filter as I captured my first closeup of sunspot 1642 using an additional red filter. (1642 is just south of the center) I am pleased with the first result, but it also shows that I still have a lot to learn in capturing and processing these new images.

After a rainy and cloudy New Years, the sun came out again and showed its face today covered with 7 active regions, reminding us that we are in the solar high.  However, flare activity is limited to some B and C class flares.  Today a full disk image and a closeup of 1644 and 46.

Carington Rotation 2131 came to an end yesterday.  Today the sky was clear for a change.  The Sun has not been very active in the last three or four days.  However 4 active regions make a nice display, especially since all but one are in the Northern hemisphere.  The transparency was so good that I wanted to try a closeup with a 5x barlow.  The atmosphere was a little turbulent, however an image of 1638 came out pretty good with a 5x Meade barlow. 

To some, this was supposed to be my the last picture of the Sun before the end of the world. (The end of the Mayan calendar)   But…. I guess someone forgot to tell the Sun, so nothing happened.  In fact the Sun has been remarkable quiet for the last few days.  But check out the backside of the sun on the Stereo Satellite websites.  Today a lot of clouds, so managed only a full disk image of the sun with three active regions.

A clear Sky again and a little more stable than yesterday.  AR1633 and 34 have grown but flare activity has been real low yesterday and today.  Another full disk image and a closeup of 33 and 34 as well as a nice prom.

The weather has not been too good for solar observing lately, but today I made a full disk image as well as a closeup of a nice prom and a sunspot group between shopping and working on my new solar filter.

Finally the weather cleared up again.  The sun was not very busy today, but the grouping 1629, 30, 31 and 32 is very impressive.  Also a few nice flares at the SW and East limbs if the sun.

A nice but not very busy sun today with three active regions 1621,23,25 and a few prominences and filaments.  Even the number of flares yesterday and today have been low.  Today a full disk image and a closeup of the 1623, 25 combo.