This majestic view of the Sun was taken on the fifth of May by Alan Friedman, an astrophotographer specialized in capturing astonishing images of our home star from his backyard in Buffalo, NY, with a 90mm hydrogen alpha telescope (a clear demonstration that not always bigger is better). The image is inverted: the brighter regions appear darker, and vice versa.
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| © Alan Friedman/ avertedimagination.com |
This solution enhances our perception of details. Here below the caption accompanying the image on Alan's website:
High five on the fifth of May... a grand new active region rotating into view, a massive prominence unleashed and blown away by the solar wind, handsome sunspot 1471, some wonderful filaments arching across the chromosphere... and clear skies to enjoy all of the above. A fantastic day to observe the sun.
Sources:
- Alan Friedman, Cinco de Mayo, May 5, 2012
- Jason Major, Super Moon? How about a Super Sun!, May 6, 2012
- Phil Plait, Solar Cinco de Mayo, Bad Astronomy, May 8, 2012
