Spotting the Spots

As the sky was pretty well clear of clouds yesterday I thought it a good opportunity to photograph the Sun. I tried at midday as that meant I would be looking through the least amount of the Earth's atmosphere to give the clearest possible photo. Unfortunately that meant the Sun was very high in the sky and I couldn't get a proper view through the camera viewfinder with the camera pointing up at such a steep angle. I tried again at 3 p.m. and this time managed to line the camera up without too much difficulty. When visiting the excellent SpaceWeather web site I noticed there were several Sunspots showing. How many would my simple equipment capture?



All of them, well, all the major parts of each visible Sunspot. Sunspots are numbered consecutively as they are observed. They are give an AR number. (AR = Active Region)



Some regions start small and then peter out so it is possible that there can be gaps in AR numbers of those in view at any one time. Even with a 400mm telephoto lens the Sun takes up a small section of a photograph so the above are cropped sections. The most important safety feature used when directly observing the Sun is the use of a Solar filter which is designed to cut the brilliance down to a safe level.

Spotty Sun

This morning was the first time for days the Sun shone for more than a few minutes. I think yesterday it managed about fifteen seconds. I finally had the chance to photograph the latest large Sun Spot.



There are other spots but the sky wasn't completely free of thin cloud so only one other showed on the photos. Even the largest one may look insignificant compared to the size of the Sun but, as one internet site described it, large enough to swallow the Earth without a ripple. Size is not necessarily important for activity to occur which affect us. A smaller spot very recently emitted enough radiation to disrupt some radio communications for a while.

As always I used a special Solar filter on the lens to cut down the light intensity and protect the camera.

AR2738 Revisited

Managed a few shots and a video clip in the gaps between clouds this morning.

Cropped photo:
 

Lone Sunspot

Sunspot activity runs in 11 year cycles.
Although it is a period of minimum Sunspot activity the occasional one appears.
It was a bit difficult trying to photograph the Sun with the amount of patchy cloud yesterday.
Sunspot AR2738 is just coming in to view.
It may not look much but is said to be larger than planet Earth.

,

Gentle reminder -
do not look directly, or point your camera, at the Sun unless you have a suitable solar filter.
I wrote about the one I use HERE.

Sun and Rain

A couple from the stormy day which was not much more than a normal blustery Autumn day here. Apart, that is, from it being so dark for much of the time with just an occasional glimpse of the Sun through the high Saharan dust:





In the close shot the Sun looks a bit lop sided as the camera couldn't find any clear edges to focus on.

This morning it was a case of looking where I was treading when we went for our early walk. The ground was wet from an earlier shower and it was almost impossible to spot any frogs in the gloom. This one got out of the way just in time and thoughtfully waited for me to take a flash photo:

Sunspot AR2672

A couple of days ago I took a few shots of the Sun hoping to catch two sunspots but I was a couple of days too late. Sunspot AR2672 is centre of the photo and AR2671 had just disappeared off the right hand side:



This spot is now decaying and moving off the right hand side as the Sun rotates.

Yesterday I tried to leave a message on The Run*A*Round Ranch Report but found access is now by invitation only. If you are reading this Theresa I hope you and yours are well and safe from the devastation wrought by hurricane Harvey.

Spots, Little and Large

Saturday was a day for spotting spots.
First was a Gatekeeper butterfly which obligingly settled on some pond plants for a while:



Both under and top of the wings have two little white spots in a black circle:






It was just the right weather for looking up as well as down.
Moving from the tiny to the ginormous:



As it came into view recently Sunspot AR2665, the largest seen this year, was observed to be growing rapidly. The dark centre is larger than the Earth.

A closer crop:




Gentle reminder folks: looking or pointing a camera or telescope straight at the Sun is a definite NO NO unless you are using a filter designed for that purpose. The Solar filter I use reduces the strength of the Sunlight something like 10,000 times to make it safe to point the camera at the Sun. I wrote about it here.

Clear Sky at Last

I've lost count of how many overcast, dull days we have had recently. This morning started partially cloudy but soon cleared to give a welcome blue sky and brilliant Sunshine. Around breakfast time I noticed the Moon was visible so took advantage to take a photo:



And a bit later one of the Sun to see if there were any Sunspots:



No. None that I could see anyway.

Sunspot 2612

For a change Friday was a beautiful Sunny Autumn day here, just a few wispy clouds making it ideal to take a new photo of the Sun:



Sunspot 2612 can be seen towards the edge at about 8 o'clock.
Sunspot activity follows an 11yr cycle. We are now past the last maximum and their numbers will decrease over the next four or five years.

A gentle reminder that you should never look directly, or point a camera, at the Sun unless you are using a solar filter designed for that purpose. This is the one I adapted for use on the 70D:

Sun Day

In reality this was taken last Tuesday when the temperature here reached 28.4C according to my weather records. Though the sky was mainly blue there was a fair amount of whispy white cloud to be seen. In spite of that the solar filter I use on the camera seemed to cut through enough to show Sunspot 2579 which can be seen near the centre:



Again on Friday there was another opportunity while the sky seemed virtually cloudless:



This time I think Sunspot 2580 is just about visible towards 5 o'clock and 2581 towards 8 o'clock.

Yesterday evening was not one of Penny's favourites when a change in the weather brought heavy rain and thunder storms. Fortunately we were near the edge of the storms which moved through South Lincolnshire, the Wash and North Norfolk.

Mercury / Sun Transit

Yesterday was one of those rare occasions where the Earth, Mercury and the Sun lined up so that Mercury could be seen as a tiny dark blob as it came between the Sun and the Earth. As we had virtually clear skies here I had to have a go at photographing the event.

Firstly it should be noted that you should not point a camera or look directly at the Sun without a filter designed for that purpose otherwise both could be damaged beyond repair very quickly. This is the Canon fitted with a solar filter which cuts down the received light about 10,000 times:



On to the photographs.
Even with a 400mm lens the Sun only takes up a small part of the view:



Cropped sections.
The first taken about 1 p.m. local time:

There are two blobs to see.
The tiny planet Mercury is near the edge of the Sun about 9 o'clock.
The other is Sunspot number 2542.

This view was taken about 2.45 p.m. local time:

The position of the Sunspot has moved slightly with the rotation of the Sun.
Mercury has moved further as it transits across the Sun.

Not Many Sunspots

As the Sun is making its presence felt at the moment I thought it was time to take a few photos. Yesterday's high here was 26C.


29th June - one Sunspot at 11 o'clock:



30th June - one Sunspot at 9 o'clock:




A gentle reminder that you should never point a camera, telescope or binoculars directly towards the Sun without using a filter made for that purpose. The Safety Film Solar Filter I use cuts down the light from the Sun by about 10,000 times. Also it should go without saying that you should never look at the Sun with the naked eyes.

Friday at the Flicks - Sun and Frogs

 

During the partial eclipse I attempted to take some video shots. This is the result, speeded up 20 times or it would have been even more boring as the eclipse is a slow process. As the camera was fixed in position I had to keep repositioning it when the Sun started to disappear out of its view:



Some video of various frogs in the garden pond:



Have a great weekend observing the wildlife around you.

Sun Day

With clear skies last Thursday it was a good opportunity to take a new photo of the Sun:

Canon 70D  400mm with Orion Safety Film Solar Filter   f5.6  1/160 sec cropped

About ten Sun Spots were observable. We are now near or just past the peak of the Sun's eleven year cycle of activity.

Do remember never to look directly, or point a camera, at the Sun without the correctly designed apparatus. The special solar filter I use on the 70D can be seen in my post 'There is a Sun Up There'.

A Day of Flutters

It took a while to get going but today was glorious and lived up to the forecast with my weather station recording a high of 19.7˚C with wall to wall Sunshine:



All the miniature Narcissus were in full bloom.



The highlight for me was seeing dozens of butterflies emerging from their Winter shelter spots.

Mainly Small Tortoiseshells:






and Peacocks:




The only other type I saw were five Brimstones but they would not settle anywhere near to be photographed. That is more Brimstones than I saw in the whole of last year. So far it is looking good for a decent year of flutters.

Also emerging from various cracks and cavities were more seven spot Ladybirds.

A different view for a change.





It looks as though today was a one off with temperatures forecast to return near the seasonal average of 7-10˚C in this part of the country.

Sun and Spots

Friday started out very overcast with the odd shower. By the afternoon things turned out more cheerful with blue sky, white clouds and plenty of Sunshine. Only a stiff, cool breeze to spoil it a bit. I managed to find a spot where I could set up the tripod and camera out of the wind with the intention of shooting a bit of video of any Sun spots. As it happened there was more cloud than I thought which was moving rapidly across the Sun as can be seen in the middle section of this short video:




Easier to photograph were some spotty creatures I spotted around the garden.
Seven spot Ladybirds enjoying the warmth of the Sun in sheltered locations:







The first two were taken with the Nikon S9050 and the final one with the Canon 50D, 70-100mm zoom with added macro lens.

Sunspots

A couple of days ago I attempted to shoot some video of the Sun. With the 70D 3x digital zoom and the 100-400mm lens it was possible to have the Sun fill the frame. I guess the equivalent focal length used would have been 900-1000mm. That bit worked out well. Unfortunately, in spite of the sturdy tripod, the gusty wind gave enough vibration to make the video unwatchable. On the other hand when I grabbed a still from the video it was clear enough to use:


This still shot showing a line of Sunspots is as grabbed from the video with no processing or cropping.


For anyone who hasn't seen the previous post on photographing the Sun please note that the only safe way to keep your eyesight and an unfried camera is to use a solar filter designed for that job.

There is a Sun Up There

Yesterday the Sun decided to show its face for a while. What a difference that makes no matter what the temperature. Anyway that gave me the chance to take my first photos of it.

Taking a photo of the Sun needs to de done in such a way that ones eyes and the camera are not permanently damaged by even a very short exposure to the intense light.  Never look or point a camera directly at the Sun without the correct type of solar filter in place.

What is needed is a filter which is designed for the job. There are many to be found on the internet with a vast range of prices. The cheapest use a specially made thin film which cuts down the light something like 10000 times. One such is the Orion Safety Film Solar Filter sold on Amazon by Orion Telescopes.  I ordered one expecting it to take a couple of weeks to arrive from America and was pleasantly surprised when it arrived in a few days from a European base.



It is designed to fit a particular telescope but I had an idea it could be adapted to fit on the front of the 70D with 100-400mm zoom lens. The filter body is made of cardboard which helps to keep the price down. With it came a length of self adhesive foam which I stuck inside the frame - not a tight fit yet so I will find some foam draught excluder strip to put another layer in it. For safety the filter needs to be a tight fit so there is no chance of it being blown or knocked off while in use.

I fitted it temporarily to get a few trial hand held shots:

Canon  70D    400mm  1/250 sec   f5.6   ISO 800

I am quite happy with the result as seen in this cropped photo which shows up Sun spots nicely.  Not bad for a £25 filter! One reason I chose this filter was it displays the Sun in an orange - red colour. Some of the cheaper film filters give a b/w result. It depends on what wavelength of light the filter is designed to allow through.