(Because it already had a thousand degrees!)
This was my first serious attempt at solar astrophotography using the Coronado SolarMax II 60 hydrogen-alpha solar telescope. Unlike regular telescopes that require external solar filters, this specialized instrument is designed specifically for safe observation of the Sun and reveals incredible surface details invisible in white-light viewing.
Solar observation was actually how I first started learning astronomy. My parents bought me a small telescope when I was in middle school, and I used it almost every day to record solar activity and Wolf numbers. Later, I compared my observations with data from other observers using different telescopes. Observing the Sun is much easier in a big city with light pollution because it can be done safely during daytime.
Many years later, I decided to invest in a dedicated solar telescope — the Coronado SolarMax II 60. It already includes an H-alpha filter system, allowing me to safely show solar activity to my kids without attaching external filters like those required for regular scopes such as the Celestron NexStar 4SE.
These images were captured with a NexImage planetary camera using approximately one minute of video (~600 frames). Stacking and sharpening were performed in RegiStax, followed by final color adjustments and Smart Sharpen in Photoshop (June 15, 2013).
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| Coronado SolarMax II 60 Sun Photo NexImage |
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| Coronado SolarMax Photo |
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| Solar filaments and plages Coronado H-alpha image |
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| Coronado SolarMax II 60 sunspots in H-alpha filter |
In these photographs you can clearly see solar prominences, filaments, plages, and active regions near sunspots — all visible thanks to the hydrogen-alpha wavelength that highlights the Sun’s chromosphere.
Solar astrophotography is both educational and safe when using proper equipment. It allows observation of real-time solar dynamics, something that constantly changes from hour to hour.
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