Solar Observing

The Sun

At the Society's Observatory
On some Saturday mornings one or two Society members visit the Observatory to carry out maintenance tasks etc. If the weather is suitable, they may occasionally make available to visitors to the Observatory - whether Society members or not - telescopes suitable for viewing the Sun in a SAFE manner. Please note that this is not a regular opportunity to view the Sun.

N.B. NEVER LOOK DIRECTLY AT THE SUN WITHOUT USING SUITABLE EYE PROTECTION - PERMANENT AND IRREVERSIBLE EYE DAMAGE MAY RESULT. Also, the Sun should never be observed with any optical apparatus that has not been fitted with a safe purposely manufactured solar filter.

The Society has several telescopes fitted with solar filters including a large Celestron 11-inch telescope.

Fiery Looping Rain on the Sun

Activity on the Sun
Eruptive events on our nearest star can be wildly different. Some come just with a solar flare, some with an additional ejection of solar material called a coronal mass ejection (CME), and some with complex moving structures in association with changes in magnetic field lines that loop up into the Sun's atmosphere, the corona.

On 19 July 2012, an eruption occurred on the Sun that produced all three. A moderately powerful solar flare exploded on the Sun's lower right hand limb, sending out light and radiation. Next came a CME, which shot off to the right out into space. And then the Sun treated viewers to one of its dazzling magnetic displays -- a phenomenon known as coronal rain.