Huge Prom Lift Off - 22nd April *Animation Added!*

[marktownley]

I thought I had got all the imaging in I was going to today, but as I watched the weather satellite image I saw a gap of blue sky between 2 particularly organised and nasty bands of showers, as the first band passed over it whited over the ground with hail, but I could see the clear blue skies following it getting ever closer on the horizon so decided to setup. Despite it still spotting with rain I knew that only had about a 15 minute gap between the next down pour, and so started to setup regardless - one of my neighbours stood in an upstairs window watching me setup in the drizzle and must have thought I was bonkers (but I don't care!) - i'm certainly glad I did, as the view that I saw left me speechless...

I had decided to setup the DS40 in order to capture a full disk, anyway as I looked through the eyepeice to get everything lined up I could see the huge prome that had been around all weekend was in the process of lifting off - i checked GONG just to double check, and lo and behold it was indeed in the process of leaving our star...

I quickly grabbed a full disk mosaic using the DS40, a bit of banding here, but speed was key if I was to make the most of the opportunity both the sun and local weather conditions were presenting me... I think there's probably a bit out of frame looking at Alexandras capture of it, but think this puts it into perspective...


Ha Full Disk by Mark Townley, on Flickr

Next off I raced to set up the 100mm PST mod to zoom in with a bit more resolution...


Prom Lift Off by Mark Townley, on Flickr

Ok, I flipped the image to put the prom on the top for aesthetics, I think it looks better on top. I'm really pleased with this image; it shows how quick it was moving as theres blurring on the right hand side - this was only 1500 frames @ 30fps with the DMK, so gives you an idea of how fast things were developing.

I have another 6 or so frames taken in direct succession, but haze was rapidly returning, unlike this image which was taken in properly blue skies, and atm are having fun getting something useful out of them, if I do, they should make an attempt at an animation - we shall see, shall keep you posted.

Hope you like these, been a bonus weekend for me solar wise!

Mark

[brianb11213]

Great capture ... I have a feeling when things are going as fast as this, it's a good idea to keep the frame reate as high as possible and the number of frames as low as reasonable (consistent with noise) so as to avoid too much motion blur.

Whilst I've been absent I've replaced my DMK21AU04 with a DMK21AU618 which is a great deal more sensitive to Ha - makes a lot of difference especially for time critical imaging.

Unfortunately I missed this event, 100% greyout today. But the Sun being so active at the moment, I guess there will be another fairly soon.

[astroshot]

That's a great prom.

[Montana]

Fabulous images Mark, an absolute treat!

Alexandra

[Derek Klepp]

Nice Mark

[marktownley]

Thank you all very much for the kind words... Here's a 5 frame animation of it, as much as I could get before the clouds came back. It was beginning to get hazy when I took these so they're not as good a quality as the still frame which was taken a few minutes earlier. The animation represents a time frame of about 3 1/2 minutes, which just shows how dynamic our star actually is! It also has the 'expanding bubble' to the right of the frame which Alexandra caught in her image of this event...


Lifting-prom-Animation by Mark Townley, on Flickr

Hope you like!

Mark

[brianb11213]

Neat animation, love that bubble!

[Wissixwe]

Despite rain here today, I got to see this event via NSN - great images, especially the animation!

[Andy Devey]

Hi Mark

Beautiful work - stunning movie

Regards

Andy

[Steffen_Be.]

Very nice animation :woohoo: . I was surprised that it was only 3 1/2 Minutes.

[marktownley]

Thanks y'all! Yes, I couldn't believe how fast it was happening!

[Heliotown]

Hi Mark,

I hope to see more animations from you in the future. Good stuff!

Thomas

[edobosz]

Mark, simply spectacular ! This is what it is all about. Thanks
Ted

[swisswalter]

Hi Mark


great cinema : : :

[marktownley]

Thanks everyone! I just hope it is clear this afternoon when I get home from work so can see what our star is presenting for us today...

[astroshot]

Nice animation Mark.
Amazing how the Sun can change in just 3.5 minutes.

[Montana]

Wonderful animation!!! it's amazing how we were viewing at identical times, I couldn't believe the speed as I could see it on the screen. Sadly a cloud immediately arrived and decided to grow over the Sun instead of moving and by the time it had shifted everything was over. We are going to see great things from you Mark this summer

Alexandra

[Derek Klepp]

That animation just tops it .I looked today through light cloud but no great prom.

[robert]

superb!

[marktownley]

Many thanks

I'm hoping to be able to get a bit of imaging in possibly, maybe, after work today - fingers crossed!

[MapleRidge]

Hi Mark...

Grerat prom shaot and the animation is equally good.

Brian