The Sun - June 2, 2012

This image of the Sun was taken on June 2, 2012 at 1:11 pm with a hydrogen-alpha telescope, while visitors to the Public Observatory examined the Sun in white light.

The Sun today is peppered with small sunspots, visible as dark spots on this image.  They are more easily seen with a white-light telescope.  They will provide an interesting background for the upcoming transit of Venus on June 5, 2012.

This red-light telescope is able to see features of the chromosphere (atmosphere) of the Sun, like bright clouds that hover above sunspot regions, called plages.

On the lower left edge of the Sun, a few prominences can be seen.  These are streams of gas following magnetic arches above the Sun.  The dark filament to lower right is the same thing, seen from above rather than from the side.

Telescope: 100mm Lunt hydrogen-alpha.

Camera: Lumenera Skynyx 2-2M.