Tuesdays Triptych - 16th October

Tuesday Triptych, a photo by Mark Townley on Flickr.

Despite plenty of active regions, sunspot activity is still quite low on our star as todays comparison at 3 different wavelengths shows. However more active regions are rounding the suns limb and in the days ahead as they become geo-effective they should keep a steady stream of charged particles heading towards Earth fuelling auroras in polar regions.

Ha Full Disk 14th October

Ha full disk bw, a photo by Mark Townley on Flickr.

Our star is becoming active again; it's surface is covered in filaments, there's a handful of nice proms, lots of nice spots and a huge active region that is crackling away with minor flare activity and gradually becoming more geo-effective. In the days ahead expect the aurora borealis to become more likely as the solar wind increases in speed and density. Taken with the DS40 @ f16 with the DMK31.

Sundays Sunrise Solar Setup - 14th October

AR11589 - 14th October

ar11589, a photo by Mark Townley on Flickr.

Lots going on in this active region!!!

AR11591 - 14th October

ar11591, a photo by Mark Townley on Flickr.

Looks like this one could show some signs of decent actvity in the days ahead... Taken with the 127mm PST mod @ 1900mm fl DMK31.

AR11590 14th October

ar11590, a photo by Mark Townley on Flickr.

AR11586 14th October

ar11586, a photo by Mark Townley on Flickr.

CaK Full Disk 14th October

CaK full disk colour, a photo by Mark Townley on Flickr.

A great view of our star today in ultra violet wavelengths at 396nm. Taken with the 70mm @ f9 DMK31.

CaK Mosaic 14th October

cak mosaic colour, a photo by Mark Townley on Flickr.

As always lots going on at this wavelength! Taken with the 100mm @ f14 DMK31 homebrew CaK filter.

AR11586 CaK 14th October

ar11586 cak colour, a photo by Mark Townley on Flickr.

Whitelight Full Disk - 14th October

wl full disk, a photo by Mark Townley on Flickr.

Taken with the 70mm @ f9 DMK31 and Lunt wedge. Finally after several quiet weeks activity seems to be picking up again on our star!

Whitelight Mosaic 14th October

wl mosaic, a photo by Mark Townley on Flickr.

Taken with the 100mm Tal refractor @ f16 with the DMK31, Lunt wedge and Baader Continuum filter.

AR11586 In Whitelight - 14th October

ar11586 wl, a photo by Mark Townley on Flickr.

AR11582 6th October

ar11582, a photo by Mark Townley on Flickr.

Despite its size ar11582 has been a quiet active region in the previous days, however now as it nears the limb still sports a delicate light bridge across its centre. It displays the Wilson effect quite well, and appears quite foreshortended and elliptical due to the shallow angle we are now observing it from on Earth. Taken with the 127mm PST mod @ 1900mm fl with the DMK31.

Ha Full Disk 6th October

Ha Full Disk, a photo by Mark Townley on Flickr.

Despite being so close to solar max, the Sun remains quiet in terms of activity, we should be seeing alot more than we currently are. I really like the delicate filament in the southern polar regions, if it hangs around in the coming days should make for a lovely flame prom. Taken with the DS40 @ f16 DMK31.

ar11585 6th October

ar11585, a photo by Mark Townley on Flickr.

Despite being quite a small features, there is plenty going on here at the smaller scale, with magnetic field lines channeling rivers of plasma around on our star.

Emerging Flux Region 6th October

emerging flux region, a photo by Mark Townley on Flickr.

Maybe this little magnetic hotspot will develop into something more active in the days ahead?

Ha Full Disk 3rd October

ha full disk, a photo by Mark Townley on Flickr.

Imaging after work on the winter side of the autumunal equinox means the sun is low and inbetween the trees. Today was no exception, and coupled with some passing clouds means I was lucky to get this picture in. It's not my best, but it does give a nice overview of todays sun, which, does seem quiet, i have to say. This was taken with the DS40 @ f10.5 with a DMk31 camera...