Capturing a Solar Tornado: A Look at the Sun's Dynamic Prominences
Yesterday's solar activity offered a spectacular view of a prominent, tornado-like structure on the Sun. Despite challenging cloud cover, this image captures a dynamic event in our closest star.
The Challenge and the Reward
Cloud cover made it difficult to capture fine details, but the opportunity to image such a striking solar prominence was too good to pass up. This "tornado" formation is a testament to the immense power and dynamism of our Sun.
Acquisition and Processing Details
- Date: August 17th, 2025
- Telescope: Lunt 60MT
- Camera: ZWO 174mm
- Focuser: ZWO EAF
- Barlow: Televue Powermate 2.5x
- Controller: AsiAir Plus
- Mount: HEQ5 Pro Mount
- Filter: Daystar Flat Cap
- Capture Software: FireCapture
- Stacking Software: AutoStakkert!3, IMPPG
- Processing Software: Pixinsight (SolarToolbox)
- Gain: 40
- Exposure: 7ms
- Capture Strategy: 30-second capture, best 5% stacked
Understanding Solar Prominences
Solar prominences are massive, glowing loops of plasma extending outward from the Sun's surface. They are guided by magnetic fields and can last for days or even weeks. The "tornado" shape we see is a fascinating manifestation of these powerful magnetic forces at play.
