Solar Prominence
April 9, 2006 — Pittsford, NY

You wouldn't know we're at solar minimum by reviewing the activity on the sun this last week. Canon 20D.

Photographed through a Coronado SolarMax 60 Hydrogen-Alpha Filter.

Solar Prominence Animation
April 2, 2006 — Pittsford, NY

A large prominence appeared on the sun, rare as we approach Solar Minimum (the least active part of the solar cycle). This is a 6 hour animation of the sun in the hydrogen alpha wavelength. Here is a closeup animation of the large prominence. Canon 20D.

Photographed through a Coronado SolarMax 60 Hydrogen-Alpha Filter.

Solar Prominences in H-Alpha
September 7, 2005 — Pittsford, NY

A beautiful loop prominence appeared on the sun today. This photo doesn't do justice to the wispy fine detail in the multiple intertwined loops. Canon 20D.

Photographed through a Coronado SolarMax 60 Hydrogen-Alpha Filter.

Sun in H-Alpha
July 21, 2004 — Pittsford, NY

Major sunspot group 652 (larger than Jupiter). Combination of 2 images: Prominence Image - 1/10 second; Surface Image - 1/200 second. ISO 100. Canon D60.

Photographed through a Coronado SolarMax 60 Hydrogen-Alpha Filter.

Venus Transit of the Sun
June 8, 2004 — Victor, NY

The long awaited Venus transit saw hot, humid but clear weather. A horizon-level haze allowed naked eye viewing of the transit right after sunrise, then the sun rose and put on a spectacular show. We caught the last hour and a half of the transit. This was the first Venus transit in 122 years, and the first ever captured in the hydrogen-alpha wavelength. This photo appears in New Zealand Geographic.

Other photos taken the same day: Third Contact (Venus touches the limb of the Sun on its way out).

Sun in H-Alpha
April 28, 2004 — Pittsford, NY

A beautiful photo of a "T-shaped" prominence.

Other photos taken the same day: Combined surface/prominence photo. Closeups ( #1 and #2 ) of the "T-shaped" prominence. How big is the prominence compared to Earth?

Photographed through a Coronado SolarMax 60 Hydrogen-Alpha Filter.

Sun 2/26/2004
Closeup photo of some wonderful prominence activity framing sunspot group 564.

Other photos taken the same day: Full Disk Prominence Shot; Closeup of Prominences.
Prominences on the 27th.

Photographed through a Coronado SolarMax 60 Hydrogen-Alpha Filter.

Sun 2/25/2004
Another cloudy period finally ended with clear skies and exciting solar activity. The major sunspot group 564 is about 8 Earth diameters from end to end. Prominence activity across an entire quadrant frames the photo nicely.

Photographed through a Coronado SolarMax 60 Hydrogen-Alpha Filter.

Sun 12/26/2003
After a month of clouds, the sun finally came out. I didn't get a well-focused surface shot, so here is an image of the prominences on this day, at 1PM in the afternoon. Canon D60 through the Televue Pronto and Televue 2x barlow. 1/8 at ISO 100. Image processing in ImagesPlus and Photoshop.

Photographed through a Coronado SolarMax 60 Hydrogen-Alpha Filter.

Sun 10/30/2003
Shot at Noon from Pittsford, see the active region 0486 (nine-o'clock position) that caused the 1st, 4th and 19th largest solar flares ever recorded, and caused the great aurora of 2003. Canon D60 with eyepiece projection through the Televue Pronto and Meade 12.4mm Super Plossl eyepiece. Composite of two shots, one to expose the surface (1/80 second) and one to expose the prominences (1/20). Image processing in ImagesPlus and Photoshop.

Photographed through a Coronado SolarMax 60 Hydrogen-Alpha Filter.

Sun 10/30/2003
Shot at Noon from Pittsford, see the active region 0486 (two-o'clock position) that caused the 1st, 4th and 19th largest solar flares ever recorded, and caused the great aurora of 2003. Canon D60 at prime focus through the Televue Pronto with 2x barlow to reach focus. Composite of two shots, one to expose the surface (1/160 second) and one to expose the prominences (1/40). Image processing in ImagesPlus and Photoshop.

Photographed through a Coronado SolarMax 60 Hydrogen-Alpha Filter.

AR375 Solar Flare (06/10/2003)
Solar Flare in large active region, shot at 10AM from Pittsford, NY. 1/50 second at ISO 200. Processed in ImagesPlus and Photoshop.

Photographed through a Coronado SolarMax 60 Hydrogen-Alpha Filter.

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Sunspot Group AR375 (06/08/2003)
Large active region, shot at 3PM from Pittsford, NY. 1/20 second at ISO 200. Processed in ImagesPlus and Photoshop.

Photographed through a Coronado SolarMax 60 Hydrogen-Alpha Filter.

Sun 06/08/2003
Televue Pronto at prime focus with Canon D60. Prominence image (1/20 second @ ISO 200) combined with Surface image (1/40 second @ ISO 200). Processed in ImagesPlus and Photoshop.. From Pittsford, NY.

Photographed through a Coronado SolarMax 60 Hydrogen-Alpha Filter.

Sun 06/06/2003 - First Light Image
First light image with H-Alpha filter. Televue Pronto at prime focus with Canon D60. Prominence image (1/320 second @ ISO 400) combined with Surface image (1/500 second @ ISO 400). Processed in ImagesPlus and Photoshop.. From Pittsford, NY.

The H-Alpha filter allows the viewing and photographing of the Sun's chromosphere by restricting the passing light to a less-than-7-angstrom range around the hydrogen-alpha wavelength. Coronado SolarMax 60 Hydrogen-Alpha Filter.