CN FORUMS ARCHIVE Telescope Reviews: Five Views of the Sun, 2004/5/25

On Tuesday afternoon I joined 2 other Astronomical Society of
Harrisburg members in observing the Sun. Ted Nichols II and Bill
Leitzell already had the ASH heliostat (see
http://www.astrohbg.org/gallery2/Tour-of-Naylor/2d_projector for a
photo) operating when I arrived at the ASH Naylor Observatory. The
projected image of the Sun displayed the large sunspot group 618 in
fine fashion. AR 10618 has the potential to produce X-class solar
flares so there is a possibility of auroral activity later in the
week. AR 10615 was near the leading limb.

I then prepared the ASH Astroscan using a 13mm Tele Vue Ploessl and a
aluminized glass solar filter to view the Sun's disk. The 35x power
image was not as pleasing as the heliostat's projected image.

I believe I saw 618 without magnification by holding the Astroscan's
solar filter up to the Sun.

Before Bill left I beheld the Sun through his solar-fiter equipped
7x35 binocular. AR 10618 was easily visible.

Finally, I set up the ASH Celestron C8 SCT for a final peek at the
daystar. At 78x (26mm Tele Vue Ploessl) I saw quite a bit of detail
in the sprawling 618 group. The umbra of the largest spot was quite
complex, with what looked to be four separate parts.

Dave Mitsky

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Chance favors the prepared mind.

A man is a small thing, and the night is very large and full of wonders.