Gazing Through the H-alpha Window

Solar h-alpha, AR1017: 2009 May 19, 1428UT – 1600UT
Sketch and Details by Erika Rix

2009 May 19, 1428UT – 1600UT
Solar h-alpha, AR1017

PCW Memorial Observatory, Zanesville, Ohio USA
Erika Rix

DS 60mm Maxscope, LXD75, 21-7mm Zhumell
Sketch created scopeside with black Strathmore Artagain paper, white
Conte’ crayon and pencil, white Prang watercolor pencil, Derwent
charcoal pencil, black oil pencil.

Temp: 14.2°C-19.8°C , Humidity 44%
Seeing: Wilson 3-3.5 , Transparency: 2/6
Light cirrus 90% coverage, slightly hazy, winds 4.6mph SSW
Alt: 41.8, Az: 105.7

AR1017 is making its way to the western limb, still clearly visible at
first glance with the crooked u-shape and then by looking closer, the
dark contrasts lining the inside of the “u”. The prominence activity
was pretty showy today and the spotless region to the east needed to be
in just the right spot of my field of view to be observed. The plage
was wishbone shaped with what appeared to be a slender, black filament
reaching out from it to the east.

The larger of the eastern proms looked detached at first, but as
transparency improved, the haze cleared up around the solar disk and I
was able to follow the entire loop where it met the limb on both sides
and even a few places in between.