Solar observations

[JEL]

Thanks for the link

I actually didn't notice it during filming, but only when I viewed it afterwards. The clouds where whizzing by the sun-disk constantly shifting how much sun-light came through, from total black-out to total shine-through, and only in the frames where the sun-light was dimmed down just by the right amount the spot is visible and then I just grabbed one such frame from the video
It's obviously no match for real telescope equipment, but fun nonetheless.

 

[SpaceMan965]

How long does the exposure have to be to take pictures of the sun?

 

[george7378]

How long does the exposure have to be to take pictures of the sun?

Only low exposure times - it is bright enough to be captured within fractions of a second.

 

[SpaceMan965]

I have tried to take a picture of it at 4000 for a exposer time and it was still extremely bright.

 

[george7378]

With a filter or without? It should not over-expose if you have one.

 

[RisingFury]

I have tried to take a picture of it at 4000 for a exposer time and it was still extremely bright.

Increase the F ratio and drop the ISO...

 

[george7378]

There is yet another new sunspot - 1089. It looks very big and messy at the moment, and poses a threat for C-class flares. The clouds over the UK mean that I can't take a look yet, but I'll try my best!

---------- Post added at 17:33 ---------- Previous post was at 09:09 ----------

I took a few pictures with my new compact camera, which has loads of settings to play with, but I still don't know the best combination for afocal solar photography. This is the largest spot I have ever seen, and will be great to watch, if the clouds stay away!

 

[george7378]

I watched the sunspot group as the Sun sank lower on the horizon - I could see three large ones using my 8X30 binoculars - it is a real sign that the Sun is waking up again, and it's a fantastic sunspot display - (I suspect it is visible with the naked eye). While I haven't ever seen this, I found some photos of amazing naked-eye unfiltered observations of sunspots:

Current sunspot group:



Old one:

http://www.spaceweather.com/swpod20...nyi1.jpg?PHPSESSID=339rhtsrhi7ffnhcdg8a80s4v3

 

[george7378]

I managed my own unfiltered sunspot pictures on holiday - the hazy horizon made amazing sunsets every night. This is sunspot 1093:

 

[tblaxland]

I must admit I can only make it out on the second image, and then only with some considerable straining of the eyes. Maybe that is just the combination of my poor quality monitor with my poor quality eyes... . EDIT: Nice sunsets though :thumbup:

 

[orb]

I must admit I can only make it out on the second image, and then only with some considerable straining of the eyes. Maybe that is just the combination of my poor quality monitor with my poor quality eyes... .

Well, I hadn't seen it before I zoomed in the image a bit (140%).

 

[JEL]

I managed my own unfiltered sunspot pictures on holiday - the hazy horizon made amazing sunsets every night.

Sunspots aside for a moment, that's some really awesome photos you got there I especially like the second one with the fading horizon. Looks amazing. Where in the world is this?

 

[george7378]

I know it's hard to see the sunspots - I don't think I zoomed in enough. I tweaked the inset solar discs for my monitor and I can see the spots in both of them without zooming in, but I know they don't contrast brilliantly. I have a picture at 32X (using digital zoom - lower quality) that shows the spot well - I'll add it when I can.

Sunspots aside for a moment, that's some really awesome photos you got there I especially like the second one with the fading horizon. Looks amazing. Where in the world is this?

Thanks - it was unbeatable watching it for real. It was in Calis Beach, Turkey, where there always seems to be a ring of thin haze hanging on the horizon so sunsets like this aren't uncommon. I only saw one go right down to the horizon though - I had to climb a hill that normally blocked the view to see the sunset properly. You get the illusion that the Sun increases in size dramatically as it sets - I think it's because your brain expects objects, for example clouds, to be bigger overhead and smaller on the horizon, but obviously the Sun doesn't change in size as it gets lower, so your brain thinks it is getting further away and larger. This is one of the only times you can see the Sun for what it really is - a massive, glowing, orange ball of power hanging above the harbour and the distant mountains - the naked eye sunspots added to the awesomeness of the scene.

 

[JEL]

Sounds like you had a good time there
Yes, I believe you, reality is pretty unbeatable, there's no denying that
Seeing real sun-sets is, I think, a rarity to a lot of people, perhaps especially city-people. I for example don't see sun-sets myself very often living in a city. Similar to seeing a really clear night-sky with stars that aren't dimmed by light-pollution, it's not often you get such a chance. Or experiencing being outside without hearing some level of motorized noise-pollution. There aren't many places you can easily go where you can't still hear some amount of traffic/machine-noise. Modern life makes the contrast to such experiences that much bigger I think.
And through all that we are still just hurling along through the room of space on this ball of earth. Yes, reality is pretty unbeatable

Well, back to the thread-topic.

 

[george7378]

Sometimes the fog or haze that hangs around the industrial regions of cities can create a similar filter effect and sunsets can be quite nice, but it is often hard to get a view of the horizon from the city. My location has wonderful dark skies, but I also know what you mean about the noise - it is annoying to see headlights going past and the noise of aircraft overhead can sometimes ruin the ambience, but I suppose it makes the true dark and quiet nights even more special, as you said.

Anyway, here is a fully zoomed image of the sunset with the spot easily visible (I hope):

---------- Post added at 22:32 ---------- Previous post was at 22:25 ----------

I also edited the other sunset photo and I think the contrast is better now (I can see the sunspot on the main photo without using the inset one or zooming in):