Sun – Page 2 – Crayford Manor House Astronomical Society Dartford

NEVER LOOK AT THE SUN DIRECTLY. Please click here for solar observing safely.

A super image of our Sun taken by member Jim Burchell on the morning of the 4th October 2024. As you can see the Sun was very active with many sunspots including sunspot AR3842. The 2nd photo has the sunspots labelled.

Jim wrote ''The images show Sunspot AR3842 which released two X-class solar flares (X7.1 and X9.1) and a series of M-class flares.''

This means Sunspot AR3842 has produced the strongest solar flare of Solar Cycle 25 so far. NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory recorded the X9.1-category blast.

Jim acquired his image using a Pentax KP body attached to a 102 mm F11 refactor; 1/320 sec; iso 100 and a Baader Astrosolar Safety film was used.

The Sun & Moon – 25th August 2024

11th September 2024

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Jim Burchell, Simon Dawes & Dr Mike Rushton imaged the Sun in white light on the 25th August 2024 and below are their splendid results. As you can see the Sun was very active.

Mike used his Dwarf II smart scope to acquire his image below.

Jim used a Pentax KP body attached to 102mm Altair Astro F11 refractor fitted with a Solar filter. The mage of the Sun is a single shot and then processed in Snapseed.

Below is an image of the Sun taken from Spaceweather.com on the same day with the sunspots numbered.

Simon's images are of the Sunspots and as you will see some of the sunspots are rather stunning. Details of how Simon acquired his images are on the photos.

Later that day Jim captured this super image of a Waning Gibbous Moon. The moon was 20.65 days old and 62.92% illuminated. Details of how Jim acquired his image are on the photo. This is a single shot image and then processed in Snapseed.

Our Sun by Jim Burchell – 23rd August 2024

8th September 2024

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NEVER LOOK AT THE SUN DIRECTLY. Please click here for solar observing safely.

A fantastic white light image of the Sun taken by member Jim Burchell on the 23rd August 2024 from Dartford. As you can see the Sun was very active with lots of huge sunspots. Jim took the single shot image using a white light Baader planetarium Astro Solar Filter and a Pentax KP body attached to 102mm F11 Altair Astro refractor at 1/320 sec and iso 100. Then processed in Snapseed.

Below is a spaceweather.com photo of the Sun with the sunspots given their number taken on the same day.

Congratulations to Simon Dawes

8th September 2024

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The Society would like to congratulate Simon Dawes for having his sunspot image (see below) published in the British Astronomical Association journal - August 2024 edition. Well done Simon; it is a superb image. Details of how Simon acquired his image is on the photo.

A mosaic of the groups AR3638, AR3643, and AR3645–3647, imaged in white light on 2024 April 18 at
07:31 UT, in Bexleyheath.

Sunspots by Simon Dawes – 11th August 2024

8th September 2024

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A collection of stunning sunspot images taken by member Simon Dawes on the 11th August 2024. Details of how Simon acquired his images are on the photos.

The Sun – 12th August 2024 by Dr Mike Rushton

8th September 2024

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A lovely white light image of the Sun taken on the 12th August 2024 by member & trustee Dr Mike Rushton; using his Dwarf II smart scope. The image is stacked and is made up of 25 x 1/200 sec exposures at gain 0.

The large sunspot top left is AR3784 and the large sunspot to the bottom right is AR3780.

Summer Solstice Sun – 20th June 2024

15th August 2024

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A fantastic photo of our Sun as it set taken by member Honor Wheeler from Weybourne Beach, Norfolk on the 20th June 2024. Massive sunspots can be seen at the 5 O'Clock position on the Sun. This image will also be found in the July edition of 'The Astronomer'. Well done Honor; it is indeed a super image.

Earlier in the day on the 20th Dr Mike Rushton took this great image of the Sun using his Dwarf II smartscope.

Below for comparison; is a screenshot of the Sun on the 20th June 2024 with the Sunspots numbered taken from Spaceweather.com

Then on the day after; on the 21st member Jim Burchell took this superb image of the Sun.

Astro-images from the 28th and a little bit of the 29th June 2024

14th August 2024

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NEVER LOOK AT THE SUN DIRECTLY. Please click here for solar observing safely.

A lovely selection of images from Society members.

First two superb images are of the Sun and Moon taken by Jim Burchell on the 28th.

Next are a selection of fantastic images of the Noctilucent Cloud that put in an appearance during the night of the 28th/29th June. It turned out to be quite a stunning display as you will see :-)

First set of images are from our Chairman John Archer whilst in Northumberland on the 28th June. The 1st 3 images show the NLC developing over the North Sea.

Taken at 10.46pm.

Taken at 10.55pm.

Taken at 11.04pm.

Taken at 11.20pm.

The next 2 images are from Diane Clarke taken from Belvedere. The 2nd image is absolutely stunning.

Taken at 10.53pm.

Taken at 11.15pm.

The next 2 superb images were taken by Honor Wheeler from Dartford.

Taken at 10.10pm.

Taken at 11.14pm.

This super image was taken by John Howarth from Bexley.

Taken at 11.10pm

This dramatic NLC image was taken by Bob Bryne from Dartford.

Taken at 11.27pm.

These lovely NLC images were taken by Sonia Rubie from Bexley.

Taken at 11.06pm.

Taken at 11.12pm.

These last 2 superb images were taken by Jim Burchell from Dartford just after midnight, so on the 29th June 2024 at 12.06am and 12.07am.

The Sun by Jim Burchell

24th June 2024

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A lovely collection of white light images of the Sun taken by member Jim Burchell in May & June this year; showing several large sunspots. Jim took the images using a Pentax KP camera attached to a 102 mm Altair refactor fitted with a solar filter and then processed in Snapseed.

Solar Observing at the Pavilion – 11th May 2024

16th June 2024

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NEVER LOOK AT THE SUN DIRECTLY. Please click here for solar observing safely.

After a fantastic night of observing the Aurora, several CMHASD members took the opportunity to observe the huge sunspot AR664 that caused it, at the Parsonage Lane Pavilion the following day. Below are a selection of photos from that afternoon.

The white light image of the Sun below was taken by member George Buckberry using a Canon EOS760D attached to a Celestron MakC90 fitted with a Baader 5.0ND Solar filter. All mounted on a Sky-Watcher Alt-Az Mount and Tripod.