October 18 2021 Observations.

[DeepSolar64]

Session time is from 15:56 until 16:30 UTC. Clear skies. Below average to poor seeing. 61F ( 16.1C )


Coronado SolarMax II 60 DS. 16x and 25x ( Ha )
Today I was able to see 4 plages on the solar disc. The easiest is in the SE near the limb because of a visible sunspot located there. I can also see plage around the spot. SW of the spot I can see another patch of plage that has a filament within it. I can easily see another plage in the NW quadrant. Just SE of the discs center I also spy with a close look a small low contrast whitish plage.

I see a number of filaments around the disc today. The NE has three easy ones and the north central region of the disc has two filaments. Both are easy. I can also see a couple of filaments in the far SE.

I can see prominences in all four " corners " of the solar globe. The SE limb has some small ones and the NE limb has a single bright fairly tall one. The NW has one that somewhat resembles a burning house! I can see some voids within it. The SW limb has three nice ones. The southernmost of these is really bright and resembles a flame with an elongated void within it but the void takes a close look to see and even then only during moments of better seeing. GONG Cerro Tololo shows it is actually two voids close together.

The Mottles can be seen across the disc today despite the seeing.



Orion 70mm Solar Telescope. 25x and 50x ( WL )
I can see 4 areas of activity on the solar photosphere today. The easiest is a new active region in the SE quadrant near the limb. I can see a fair-sized spot showing an easy penumbra surrounding a dark umbra. It's surrounded by faculae. I see no other spots or pores in the vicinity. To the south west of this system I see another patch of faculae without spot or pore. I can see a smaller scattered patch of faculae almost at the SW limb. No spot or pore seen there either. I can see two small spots, the westernmost one being the larger and easier to see, just above the equator in the NW quadrant. I cannot see any faculae associated with them.

The fine granulation can only barely be seen today.

Carpe Lumen!

James

GONGha+SDOHMIc_10-18-21.JPG (154.99 KiB) Viewed 200 times

Fall observing day 10-18-21.JPG (450.21 KiB) Viewed 200 times

[marktownley]

Thanks for the report James, our trees are looking very similar to yours now. More rain for me this morning i'm afraid, Atlantic weather and the jet stream is in full flow here...

[Ivan]

It was interesting to read, James, thanks. Great report and great landscape (our trees are almost leafless), I didn't even immediately see your equipment. How do you decide which telescopes to use, I mean 60 or 90mm?

Ivan

[MAURITS]

Great report James, beautiful location.

[Montana]

I had to look twice to see the telescopes I was looking at the trees what a beautiful blue sky too. It has been raining ever since I got home from my holiday last Friday rainy miserable Cheshire

Great to hear all the details, glad you could see some spots in the bright area (mid north west) which is very obvious in Arne's image.

Alexandra

[DeepSolar64]

Ivan,
Time and seeing often determine what scopes I use. The smaller instruments are easier to set up and take down and are super portable and handle poor seeing better. If I have more time and the seeing is at least fair I prefer to use the larger scopes. But sometimes I'll admit I'll use the small ones just because I am lazy!

I am also more inclined to use the bigger scopes when something is really going on or when the Sun is more active. If it's quiet I will often go for the smaller ones.

Mark,
The coming of winter usually sees the jet stream more over my area too.

Alexandra,
I hope more of my blue skies come your way!

James