On the 15th January 2023 one of the largest individual sunspots of Solar Cycle 25 rotated into view on the eastern limb of the Sun. It’s designated number was AR 3190 and it was crackling with M-class and X-class solar flares!
Because of all the cloudy weather we’ve had here on the east coast of Australia this is the first image of the Sun that I’ve been able to take for 2023.
Images taken with a Canon 70D camera and Canon 100-400mm lens with a 2x teleconverter making a focal length of 1280mm. Glass solar filter attached to front of the lens for safe viewing and imaging of the Sun.
I’ve taken a photo of my quick set-up gear for taking solar images in visible light (white light).
It comprises of a Canon 70D camera fitted with a Canon 100-400mm lens with a 2x teleconverter lens attached making a focal length of 1280mm because the Canon 70D has a cropped sensor by 1.6.
(Math: 400x2=800 x1.6 = 1280mm)
WARNING: Never look at the Sun unless you have a solar filter on your lens!
There is an Orion glass solar filter fitted on the end of the lens to observe 99.9% light and heat from Sun to safely view and take images…you must have a solar filter!
Another very helpful and must have is a Televue Sol Searcher which attached to the top of the lens and has a hole that lines up the Sun and projects it onto a screen, this way you don’t have to look up at the Sun…not necessary but ever so helpful J
You must have you camera set-up on a camera tripod or tracking tripod to stabilise your images at these high magnifications and last of all but not least is a cable release cable.
This is so you are not touching the camera and can do fast shots one after another.
Other camera models may have this feature built into the camera have a look in your camera manual.
The Sun is a fascinating object to look at and take images of but you must be very careful to observe it safely by using solar filters on your lenses and telescopes.
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