Sun - July 28, 2012

This image of the Sun was taken with a hydrogen-alpha telescope at 1:15 p.m. on July 28, 2012.

On that day, several interesting phenomena were visible on the Sun. Quiet sunspots 1530 and 1529 (top middle) were rotating across the face of the Sun.

The active sunspot region 1532 had just rotated into view, already unleashing a moderate solar flare. Here, the sunspot region is visible on the left as a pair of dark dots connected by bright clouds.

Arches of hot gas can be seen in this image from two different points of view. Off the edge of the sun, several beautiful prominences can be seen. The one in the middle appears to have detached from the Sun. Toward the top and right of the image, there are two dark lines, or filaments. These are also arches of hot gas like a prominence, but seen from above (against the brighter Sun) rather than from the side.

Telescope: Lunt 100mm Hydrogen-alpha

Camera: Lumenera SKYnyx2-2M