[AZ-Observing] Re: Giant Sun Spot

  From Stone Haven Observatory this morning, sunspot group AR484 has grown 
into quite the beasty.  I watched it in real time for about 45 minutes 
through several different filter combinations in white light and was able to 
see some amazing details.  Light bridges forming and disappearing, penumbral 
areas swelling and subsiding, white light flares growing brighter and so on. 
  The best view was obtained through the C8 with a Baader film and a 
standard yellow filter at 226X, though spectacular views were had through 
the 6" F/4.5 solar scope, too.  Details in penumbra and plages were fairly 
easy, since the seeing was good before noon.
  The new region, probably to be named AR485, is indeed visible in white 
light already.  Plages and umbra, while foreshortened, are easily visible on 
the southeast limb.  (This group was also fairly easy to see in the magnetic 
data from Big Bear and on the Spaceweather page yesterday.)  AR485 is also 
quite visible in the H-Alpha images from Big Bear taken just an hour ago at 
18:15UT.  They show copious long filaments that seem to radiate in arcs from 
AR484.  AR485 also shows some good prominence activity in H-Alpha, and 
there's also a nice looping prominence on the west limb.
  I took a few pictures through several configurations this morning on both 
slide and print films.  I plan to take them in for processing this 
afternoon.  They should turn out good, since the seeing was so good.  If you 
get the chance to view the Sun SAFELY, I highly recommend you do so in any 
wavelength available to you as soon as possible.  This may turn out to be 
the Sun's last big push before comparative quiescence after the solar max in 
2000.  I've included links to Big Bear and SOHO for your enjoyment.

http://www.bbso.njit.edu/cgi-bin/LatestImages

http://sohowww.nascom.nasa.gov/

Steve and Rosie Dodder
sdodder@xxxxxxxxxxx
Visit my web site at http://www.stargazing.net/Astroman

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