Our Interesting Sun

Just had to post this one:
With a bit of a clear patch, before the afternoon thunderstorms set in, I took the opportunity to catch a look at the sun.
The loan of a Coronado PST telescope for the month from a GAA club member was the motivating factor.
At first the views were a little disappointing, that was until I got the filter tuning just right & swapped to an 8 mm Teleview Radian eyepiece.
What a difference
Not being much of an Astro-photographer, but still wanting to share the beauty of this view (which i cant get out of my head) I have attached a (crude) sketch.

Sunspot 944 is in itself interesting having survived 5 solar rotations !
Picking up a new # each time it comes back into view
I hope someone out there might be able to image this.

Wet Season Astronomy

Well its been a bit quite in here lately, with the wet season robing us of our night sky, But things are looking up with an unseasonal dry spell !
The other morning was a good example:

While waking up an hour before the morning alarm might annoy some, for this happy little astronomer it is a bonus !
Enough time for some morning exersize, then wheel the Dobsonian mounted 10" scope out for some early morning views of Jupiter & the 26ish day old moon.
With the still morning air the finer points of Jupiter's banding & spots jump into view.
On the moon the view of Achistarus & Schroters valley was breathtaking, with Schroters being clearly lit on one side of the valley & in shadow on the other !
It would be so good to talk a moonwalk along this huge valley
(Attached photo is one taken some time ago)

The region around Schickard is also very interesting with its intersecting craters & craterlets.
A great start to the day