Solar Observation, 12/12/09 – sunspot 1034

[GeorgeN]

The following report is based on observations I made on 12/12/09 from the Town of Maine, NY at 1:45 pm EST (18:45 UT) using my Coronado 40mm PST and a Brandon 16mm eyepiece. Seeing was poor, with a light wind and sub-freezing temp.

Thanks to the poor seeing, I was at first not able to see sunspot 1034 with the h-alpha filter de-tuned (giving a white-light only view). With a little improvement in seeing thanks to lower wind I was finally able to see the sunspot, but it was tiny in my PST. However, after tuning in the h-alpha filter the spot was easy to see, mostly thanks to the small and not too bright plage area surrounding it. There were also some dark filaments in the area. All of these structures are pretty small. SpaceWeather reports that 1034 is a new Cycle 24 spot, and the last NOAA report states “Region 1034 (N20E45) remains a small Bxo Beta group.”

In addition to the sunspot, there was a far easier to see pair of prominences. One was a classic broad fan-like loop, while the other had a more crab-claw and narrow shape. Otherwise there was only the typical h-alpha ‘orange skin’ mottling on the sun.

I guess the sun doesn’t feel like putting on a big display for the waning days of the International Year of Astronomy.

George N

[kreegan99]

Great observation report. It would be really cool if it hung out long enough for the sun to peek out yet once again. I hope I get to see this one. As they have been few and far between!

I have tried to get more solar observing time in. As you had recommended, I take my PST and tripod to work with me and I use it whenever it is sunny out at lunchtime. Good idea - thanks!

Below you had stated "crab-claw and narrow shape" - Is this the looping type of prominence that reconnects back to the surface?

Thanks George!

[GeorgeN]

......
Below you had stated "crab-claw and narrow shape" - Is this the looping type of prominence that reconnects back to the surface?

I think so...... but the view was nearly "edge-on" so the loop looked more like a narrow tower.

George N

[GeorgeN]

More observations of sunspot group 1034 as of 5:10 UT (12:10 pm EST) on Dec 16th, 2009 using my Coronado PST & 16mm Brandon eyepiece; seeing was very poor as I chased ‘sucker holes’ in the clouds and had to deal with blowing snow:

Wow, has this spot group grown! It’s by far the biggest and most complex I’ve see this year. It looks like solar activity is finally on the up tic.

The group forms a line across the sun, with an obvious split into a proceeding and following group. In h-alpha there is a long snaky line of bright material connecting the two spot areas. This bright area was much brighter than it was during my last observation.

Not too far away there was a strange loop shaped dark filament (prominence on the solar disk rather than the edge). I’ve never seen a filament that looked like a ring before. There was no sign of sunspots in this area, nor did it have any connections with group 1034.

I could see one prominence on the disk edge. However the poor seeing and cloud made it difficult to see any details. It was far from the 1034 group, so has no relationship.

Add to all of this a report of a CME heading toward Earth that might bring auroras!

I guess the sun finally decided to put on a show at the end of IYA 2009.

George N

[Boomi21]

I will read time to time that