The Sun is waking up
After a long minimum we are seeing Sun spot activity again. We are now in Solar Cycle 24 (the 24th since 1755 when modern Sun spot records began) with Solar Max for this cycle predicted to be around 2013 (NASA), but predictions are just that so lets wait and see.

Below are the images that I have taken for this build up to maximum (starting in 2009). Hopefully the sequence will show the increase in Sun spot activity. All of the photos have been taken via my Meade 10" LX200 classic with a Thousand Oaks white light sun filter using my Canon EOS 400D at Prime Focus. Exposure time is 1/125 sec at 100ASA. Each full disk image is a montage of about four to capture the complete disk.

The images below are reverse chronological order (i.e. latest first)

My Setup - Meade 10" Classic, Thousand Oaks white light filter, Canon EOS 400D
15th October 2011.

Activity continues to pick up; the best sunspot count I have seen so far in this cycle.
1st October 2011

 
25th September 2011.

Things are getting interesting with a few groups on display; 1301 to 1305 with 1302 being the largest on the Eastern limb. I have labelled them in the photo below. A more detailed shot of group 1302 is also shown below (Meade DSI II).

Group 1302

 
21st August 2011.

Some quite nice activity - group 1271 (near centre), 1272 (southern) and 1274 (faint on eastern limb)
30th July 2011 - First light in my new observatory after moving house - hence the break in photos since January!

Nice groups - sunspot groups 1263 on Eastern limb,1261 and 1260 (left to right)

 

 
9th January 2011 showing  sunspot 1140 in the northern hemisphere

Close up of the sun spot . Taken using the same set-up as described above but with a Meade DSI II camera.

 
24th October 2010  showing  sunspot group 1117

30th August 2010 (slightly cloudy sky) showing northern hemisphere sunspot groups 1101 (near centre) and 1102 (north east).

A closer view of the 30th August 2010 groups.

 
23rd May 2010 (the 1 day rotation can be clearly observed via comparison with the photo below )

Close up of the sun spot group. Taken using the same set-up as described above but with a Meade DSI I camera.
22nd May 2010

 
21st March 2010

 
28th December 2009