Celestron NexStar 102 GT w/Altair wedge and Baader Continuum filter. 55x and 83x. ( 540nm )
Today I can see at least eleven regions of activity on the 540nm photosphere. Six of these regions are labeled in the northern hemisphere on the SWL SDO HMI image. One is unlabeled. All are in a belt across the solar northern " temperate zone ". Four are seen in the southern hemisphere. Two labeled and two unlabeled. ( SDO/SWL )
The NE quadrant just inside the limb shows a structured round spot with bright faculae to it's east. This system lacks an NOAA label on the SWL image. To it's west lies the two spot AR131200. SDOHMIc shows a stream of tiny pores heading SE of the two spots. I did not notice them. AR13199 shows itself as a scattered grouping of small spots and pores. Somehow a part of this group reminds me of a man in a parachute swinging in the wind! NE of AR13199 lies two large pores. It's unlabeled and may be a developing new group. Remember, I said " At least eleven regions of activity "
This may be a twelfth. AR13198 which is at or just west of the CLM shows itself as a small spot showing umbra and penumbra. AR13197 is a loose scattering of spots/pores SW of AR13198. Three are spots proper. The rest are pores. AR13196 is seen only as a couple of pores SW of AR13197. AR13192 is seen as a spot with several smaller spots and pores surrounded by a large area of faculae nearing the NW limb. The penumbra of the primary spot is quite fragmented surrounding a small dark umbra. AR13190 is well seen by it's large spot and two smaller spots to it's NW. At 55x and 83x I can see considerable detail in this region. I can see a couple of light bridges intruding into the SE and SW sides of the large spot's umbra. The umbra's edge also has a sharp jagged look. The penumbra is mottled with hints of finer detail. I can see some smaller lighter places within it. An umbralet can be seen within the northern edge of the penumbra and below it another umbralet which is quite tiny. More shadings are seen east of the main part of the penumbra and the penumbra extends itself to the N-NE of the big spot connecting it to the smaller spot to the NNE. NE of the big spot lies another spot with a tattered penumbra surrounding an irregular umbra. AR13194 SSW of AR13190 is a smattering of spots amid faculae that are very close to the SW limb. These two groups will be at or on the limb tomorrow. I am gonna really miss AR13190! The SE quadrant shows two patches of faculae. An easier patch near the limb and a harder but certainly visible patch SE of the easier one.
The granulation is visible, but I cannot resolve the individual grains. 83x is the highest magnification that I can get a clear view using. I gain little to nothing by going higher since I am limited by atmospheric seeing.
Coronado SolarMax II 90 DS. 32x and 50x ( 656.28nm )
I can see nine active regions in the Ha chromosphere today. Six number labeled in the northern hemisphere with one unnumbered. Two are numbered in the southern hemisphere. GONG Teide Observatory Ha does show two faint low contrast plages in the SE quadrant but I did not see them in the scope.
I can see a small plage near the NE limb. It's an unlabeled system. SSE of this system lies some easy filaments near the limb. West of this unlabeled system lies the plage of AR131200. Well WSW of AR131200 lies the scattered plage of AR13199. NW of AR13199 at the CLM lies AR13198 which shows itself as a leading spot followed by plage and a small but dark filament. SW of it lies AR13197 with three spots amid scattered plage. SW of this lies AR13196 which is seen as a small nearly straight patch of plage. A curved filament lies to this plage's NW. AR13192 is seen as a large area of plage with intermingling filaments.
AR13190 in the SW quadrant can be seen by it's large spot and plage. The spot is MUCH better seen at 540nm than at 656.28nm. AR13194 can be seen as plage SSW of AR13190. A filament is seen SE of AR13190 with a brightened area beneath it. Two larger and easier filaments are seen SE of AR13190. I see two more filaments in the SSE.
Though I did not spend a lot of time studying prominences I did notice a nice collection of them across the western limb. I actually spent 2/3s of my time today studying the photosphere in 540nm and did not spend as much time in Ha studying the chromosphere. A lot of the time in 540nm was studying AR13190 before it is gone.
The mottles are easily seen across the Ha chromosphere.
Carpe Lumen!
James
- GONGTOSP_Ha_1-24-23.jpg (499.53 KiB) Viewed 267 times
- SDO_HMIIF_1024.jpg (111.63 KiB) Viewed 268 times
- AR13190-AR13194_Closeup_Color_SDOHMIc_1-24-23.JPG (78.15 KiB) Viewed 268 times
- AR13190-AR13194_Closeup_Greyscale_SDOHMIc_1-24-23.JPG (138.67 KiB) Viewed 268 times
- Teide5-2023-01-24T163730UTC_Slooh_JP.jpg (181.4 KiB) Viewed 268 times
