Site of the Storm
The Sun sent a powerful
storm toward Earth yesterday -- one of
the strongest in recorded history -- and backyard astrophotographer Becky Ramotowski
captured the source of the blast.
Ramotowski took this image of the solar surface yesterday. Sunspot number 486, which spawned a massive space storm that is due to arrive today, is the large complex of dark areas just below and to the left of center. Sunspots are cooler regions of the Sun where magnetic energy wells up, often prior to eruptions.
She took the image from Albuquerque, N.M. with a digital camera held by hand up to her 80mm (3.15-inch) refractor telescope, which was equipped with a safe and approved solar filter.
Do not look at the Sun directly or through a telescope or binoculars. It can cause permanent eye damage. You can, however, see the sunspots indirectly with no special equipment, by projecting the image through binoculars onto white paper. It's easy, and it's guaranteed to impress your family, neighbors or coworkers. Here's how.
-- Robert
Roy Britt
Credit: Becky Ramotowski
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