2010 06 08 – H alpha full disk
2010 June 8, 1541 UT
Solar h-alpha
PCW Memorial Observatory, Zanesville, Ohio USA – Erika Rix
DS 60mm Maxscope, LXD75, 21-7mm Zhumell
H-alpha sketch created scopeside with black Strathmore Artagain paper, white Conte’ crayon and pencil, Derwent charcoal pencil, black oil pencil.
Temp: 24C, Humidity 46%
Seeing: Wilson 2, Transparency: 3/6
Light cirrus, Alt: 62.1, Az: 120.1
Bright plage to the SW, in the shape of a thicker horseshoe with a thinner one attached facing the opposite direction, could indicate a new active region forming according to Spaceweather.com. I could see fainter crooked lines of plage scattered about that area and then another plage area just 30° E of it. Two more plage areas were located in the NE quadrant, one just inside the limb ~20° of the larger bright prominence region.
The smaller of that set of prominences in the NE continued inward from the limb forming a faint, but distinct filament extending to the W. The other significant prominence region was to the NW. It was very faint, but at moments of steadier seeing, I would say it was the largest of the proms during my observation, both in height and width. Faint portions of it extended to the N and could have possibly connected to the very small bright prominence ~10° N of it.
The best parts for me today were the lines of filaments in the NW quadrant. Depending on the placement of it in my FOV and the tuning, depths of it changed dramatically as well as the outer portions of the shapes. It kind of reminded me of a pair of Loch Ness monsters peeping in and out of the Chromosphere. I certainly didn’t do them justice in the sketch, but they were a joy to observe.
PCW Memorial Observatory - Erika Rix 