Closed due to weather; join us in the Explore the Universe gallery.
Our Observatory has been putting the telescopes where the people are for 10 years this September! Stop by and learn about how the Observatory came to be, meet Observatory staff, and observe the Sun through our solar-filtered telescopes.
- Our Observatory is free.
- If closed due to weather, join us in the Explore the Universe gallery to learn more about the Observatory.
- Follow @airandspace on Twitter for weather and closure updates, or ask at the Museum's Welcome Center.
Accessibility: The Observatory dome and terrace are accessible via ramp or steps. Written and touchable explanatory materials are available.
Questions? Email us: SIObservatory@si.edu.
This image of the Sun was taken on December 28, 2011 at 12:35 pm EST. Two hydrogen-alpha filters were used, increasing the contrast between the bright plages (typically found near sunspot groups) and dark filaments. The double-stacked filters do not cast even illumination, however, causing the bright stripe across the bottom of the Sun.
There is significant sunspot activity on the Sun today. The filaments and prominences, particularly the bright prominence to the upper right, are sites of other magnetic activity.
The bright prominence erupted and dissipated about 24 hours later, as seen by the Solar Dynamics Observatory.
Telescope: 60mm Hydrogen-alpha telescope with double-stacked filter.
Camera: Lumenera SKYnyx 2-2M
Phoebe Waterman Haas Public Observatory