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The Sun today - including hydrogen gamma!
by Dale Hooper 06 Oct '22

06 Oct '22

Hi Utah-Astronomers, The activity on the Sun today was absolutely gorgeous! I decided to share these images because I was *definitely* able to capture the Sun in the hydrogen gamma absorption line today using my Sol'Ex spectroheliograph! I can tell for a fact that it is the correct line because I can see some subtle prominences in the prominences file! I've still got a fair bit of work to do if I hope to get a hydrogen delta image (it will be fun!). The magnesium image is a bit rough today - but I didn't notice it while I was taking the scans. This is definitely a great time to get out and observe the Sun if you have a white light filter or hydrogen alpha scope, etc. Here is the link to my images: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjA9WKZ Clear skies, Dale.

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Orem Lakeridge Junior High star party is on
by John M. Craig 29 Sep '22

29 Sep '22

Hi Folks, The weather forecast shows clouds clearing later in the day tomorrow, so we'll go ahead with the star party at Lakeridge unless there's a big change in the next 36 hours. If you're planning to come, please reply to me directly (I just want a basic count of the number of scopes we'll have). Thanks! John Craig

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Dale Cooper's solar pics in different spectral lines
by John M. Craig 23 Sep '22

23 Sep '22

Dale, those a really great! What Hershel wedge did you get/have? John

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Orem Lakeridge Jr High Star Party 30 Sept
by John M. Craig 22 Sep '22

22 Sep '22

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The Sun yesterday (in a few different absorption lines)
by Dale Hooper 17 Sep '22

17 Sep '22

Hi Utah-Astronomy, A few months ago, I finished building a Sol'Ex spectroheliograph (see www.astrosurf.com/solex/sol-ex-objective-en.html) I'm using the Sol'Ex, a William Optics Z61II, a ZWO ASI 1600mmPro and a Lacerta Hershel wedge to do narrow band imaging of the Sun. I finally set up a flickr account so I thought I'd forward a link to you of some of the images I was able to take yesterday. We finally got a break from the clouds so I was able to get images in hydrogen alpha (656 nm), hydrogen beta (486 nm), the Sodium (Na) doublet (589 nm) and the highest of the Magnesium (Mg) triplet (b1) (about 518.4 nm). It looks like the focus for the hydrogen alpha image wasn't as sharp as it was for the other images. If you'd like to take a look at the images, they are at: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjA7oBS Clear skies, Dale.

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School Star Party at Lakeridge Jr. High in Orem 30 September
by John M. Craig 01 Sep '22

01 Sep '22

Hello Friends, If you're available and interested, we'd be pleased to have you bring your scope; binoculars; whatever you've got. The info from the new science teacher who'll be coordinating things for the school is below. Please email me directly and send a phone number so that I'll be able to let you know in case of inclement weather. Thanks! John Craig 801-805-4963 As in years past, we will be hosting the event on Lakeridge's track. This is located east of the school and south of the rear parking lot. This lot will be most convenient for parking as it is adjacent to the track. We will be telling students that they are welcome to come to the event anytime from *8:00 pm to 10:00 pm*. Teachers and at least one administrator will be present to help supervise and instruct students. We will be at the school at least a half hour before the event to facilitate set-up and greet any volunteers from the astronomy society. We'll have access to the school if anyone needs to use indoor facilities. We will also ensure sprinklers are turned off, as will be any nearby lights that can be turned off to enhance the viewing experience.

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Prominence
by ebertzs＠comcast.net 31 Aug '22

31 Aug '22

Just heard about it this evening. Will try tomorrow with my solar scope. We should make a hotline, lol. Best, Shoshana

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Some H-alpha solar photos from 29 August
by John M. Craig 31 Aug '22

31 Aug '22

Hi Folks, If you didn't get a chance to see the amazing prominence on the 29th, these pictures will at least give you the magnitude of it. These are unprocessed/hold-the-old-camera-to-the-eyepiece style photos, so nothing terribly great. The active region with a multitude of sunspots is probably worth a look in white light too. https://alphagconsulting.com/astroPics/Solar-2022-80-29/ I see on https://gong2.nso.edu/products/tableView/table.php?configFile=configs/hAlph… that there's a whispy prom on the north trailing limb now. I didn't have a chance to set up the solar scope today, so it might have been pretty great earlier. Ciao, John

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Amazing spike of a solar prominence today
by John M. Craig 29 Aug '22

29 Aug '22

Hi Folks, If you have an H-a scope or etalon/filter attachment, there's an amazing prominence today. If not, you can see part of it here (it's taller than the field of view of these scopes): https://gong2.nso.edu/products/tableView/table.php?configFile=configs/hAlph… John

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Anyone else see the bright light in the west on evening of 2nd?
by John M. Craig 06 Aug '22

06 Aug '22

Hi Folks, Did anyone else see this? It was very bright at about 8:50 (dusk). A friend called to ask if it was a planet (which was a good question, but I assured him all the bright planets weren't up). It was at least as bright as Venus and it did not appear to move. It was maybe 25 or 30 degrees above the western horizon. By 9:05 or thereabouts it had dimmed to nothing. I'm thinking maybe a first stage of a launch from Vandenberg or something of the like, but I haven't seen any info that suggests that might have happened. Just curious if anyone else saw it--and if anyone knows what it might have been. John

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