The sun in H-alpha on August 7, 2024

Description:

Using an H-alpha (or Hydrogen-alpha) filter allows us to see solar activity in much more detail than in natural light.

Dark spots are slightly cooler regions on the surface of the sun and are the starting point for huge plasma filaments that follow magnetic loops above these spots. These flares occur continuously on the sun and some, more powerful than others, send us high-speed charged particles that produce magnificent auroras when these particles are deflected by our terrestrial protective field, the Van Allen belt.

This photo was taken with a small 80mm diameter telescope, a William Optics GT81, with a Daystar Quark Gemini filter in chromosphere mode. This filter also has a magnifying element that quadruples the focal length of the telescope and therefore allows this close-up view.