Cap'n Bob & the Damsel

AR1734 – “Great Horned Sunspot”

Great Horned Sunspot

I read about this sunspot on SpaceWeather.com today. Seeing the article prompted me to get out the tripod and solar filter out and try to get a picture of my own. In the enlarged version of this image, you can see that I managed to capture the structure of this unusual-looking sunspot (inset). Click on the image to enlarge.

From SpaceWeather.com

Around the world, amateur astronomers are snapping pictures of behemoth sunspot AR1734 as it crosses the solar disk. In Buffalo, New York, photographer Alan Friedman noticed something when he rotated his picture 90 degrees. “Sunspot 1734 has a definite owlish look!” “But who gives a hoot,” he continued, “this grand active region looks fantastic from every perspective.”

The owl could be poised to explode. Sunspot AR1734 has a ‘beta-gamma’ magnetic field that harbors energy for M-class solar flares, almost-certainly Earth-directed because the sunspot is facing our planet. NOAA forecasters estimate a 45% chance of M-flares on May 6th.

06 May 2013 by Astronomy Environment Photography Science

Cleveland Sage Flowers

Cleveland Sage Flowers

Cleveland Sage (a.k.a salvia clevelandii) is a shrub that grows in our courtyard. This is the third year for the sage and their beautiful (and fragrant) flowers in our yard. Click on the image to enlarge.

From Wikipedia:

Salvia clevelandii (Cleveland sage, Blue sage, Jim sage and Fragrant sage) is a perennial plant that is native to Southern California and northern Baja California, growing below 3,000 ft elevation in California coastal sage and chaparral habitat. The plant was named in 1874 by Asa Gray, honoring plant collector Daniel Cleveland.

05 May 2013 by Arizona Flowers Home & Garden Photography

Hassayampa River South

Hassayampa River South

We went to the valley yesterday to do some shopping at Wal Mart. As we drive southeast on US Hwy 60, the Hassayampa River follows the roadway until we get almost to Morristown, where the river turns south and heads toward its confluence with the Gila River. Damsel took this picture of the Hassayampa with the Vulture mountains in the background. What a beautiful desert we have! Click on the image to enlarge.

01 May 2013 by Arizona Photography Retirement

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