HUGE Dark Filament December 6th sketch

Dec. 6, 2010

Active Dark Filament on the Sun's SE limb as viewed from Bray Co Wicklow December 6th

PST 40 8mm eyepiece Pastels and charcoal on black card. Not rotated.
An experimental sketch to capture detail on the solar disc.
10:45 UT December 6th 2010 - I was thrilled to see such a huge well structured filament on the sun. It arced upward from the solar surface and whipped over the south limb with powerful visual action. The filament seemed to be anchored to the sun by many many fine lines which appeared dark against the solar disc in h alpha . These fine power packed solar lines continued within the arc over the limb looking like a solar waterfall against the blackness of space. This filaprom was over 700,000 km long , that is enormous.

Deirdre Kelleghan
Vice Chair IFAS

Deirdre,
I have to say, that is simply very impressive work. I love art that has texture.

Super piece of work!
John.

Thanks John , but I do not consider my astronomical sketches as ART at all really.
Solar sketching is difficult because even though the sun is the most massive object in our solar system it is 93,000000 miles from my eye and the features I observe are very very very tiny.

Observing the sun takes great concentration , sketching it accurately depends on that concentration and the ability to bring the subject to the page in your hand. Also one of the biggest challenges is coming up with methods to sketch the sun as it is a very complex object which is changing all the time.

I do not see movement while observing as the sun is too far away but sketching a single drawing or a series in stop motion accurately means I can compare my sketches to images taken at the same time of the same feature and be reasonably pleased with the results. I also have to constantly focus and tune my PST to keep my view as sharp as possible while sketching. I observe the sun and try to sketch it accurately , my record of my observation.

A person taking images of the sun needs special equipment , skill , software et cetra to capture the action. The resulting images are produced according to how well the person can use their knowledge of many factors. My solar sketches are a result of concentrated observing,and figuring out how to reproduce what I am looking at onto a page. So instead of using a camera to record my view I am using my observing skills combined with my knowledge of drawing materials , pastels, conte, charcoal et cetra. For me its a great adventure and a journey of constant learning. I am sure the same is true for solar photographers who are always trying for improvments in capturing our star.

I also love art that has texture and most of my paintings are very textured.

Deirdre Kelleghan
Vice Chair IFAS

Fantastic sketch Deirdre. Wish I could draw like that.

I notice spaceweather have put an animation of the same occurrence up on their site here. Would have loved to have seen this live.

spaceweather.com/images2010/06dec10/epic...8c2hudh40cqoj2r3oq31

Thanks , Trevor ,I enjoyed the process of catching the beginning of it, but because the sun was so low I was not able to get another sketch. Missed out on the progression of the eruption but was pleased to have my sketch link on the front page of Spaceweather on December 6th. What an amazing video, almost scary the power in that outburst.

Deirdre Kelleghan
Vice Chair IFAS