Sunspots during Sydney's Duststorm.

[Dusty]

The morning of Wednsday 23rd Sept was an amazing and eerie time with the biggest dust storm to engulf our city in 70 years.

At around 9am the sun managed to peek through the dust to reveal an amazing sight.
The sun's disk was dimmed enough so that I could safely take a photo of it's surface sunspot activity without using any filters whatsoever.

A high res version and full details can be viewed at: http://www.iimagespace.com/page/ss/duststorm-sunspots.htm

The sun's image looks like it's taken through a solar filter but as you can see, it's not, it shows trees to the right and the dull dusty sky background.

This image was also featured on SpaceWeather.com (http://www.spaceweather.com/archive.php?view=1&day=24&month=09&year=2009) the next day.

Details of the Image:
Canon 20D, imaged at 600mm (Canon EF 300mm L f/4 + 2x tele-converter), f/16, ISO 100, 1/800 sec exp.

Warning: Never point a camera or optical device at the sun without proper certified solar filters or unless you are sure it's safe to do so.

Cheers and thanks for looking.

Dusty
:)

[Nighthound]

Wow, very cool and who better to do it than "Dusty". :D

I've seen some amazing photos taken during the storm, but this one I wouldn't have imagined possible. Mother nature provided some very effective filtration. Incredible shot, but then you're known for them.

Congrats on the SpaceWeather feature and an exceptional image Dusty.

[Jon Foster]

Nice shot but be careful without any filters! I didn't know there were any spots right now. I'll have to check Spaceweather.

Jon.

[RobinSchouten]

Simply amazing, very well shot!

[VIGER]

Stunning image and unique for sure. Filtering using the sand! You're focus is also impecable. Obviously you know what you are doing.

I did something simmilar on the transit of venus several years ago. The quality of the picture not even near this one.

There where to many clouds that morning of june 8 (2004?) and I had remooved the filter to see the transit. I took picures and then re-inserted the diagonal and at that moment the clouds cleared up and the plastic cap at the end of the diagonal juste melted under my eyes ... I could not beleive it ...

Thanks for sharing I suggest you summit your image to APOD http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ as you have a winner.

Cheers

Michel

[Celestron]

Nice Dusty ! I've seen the Sun here like that with dust storms we've had here in the past .

[Dusty]

Wow, very cool and who better to do it than "Dusty". :D

I've seen some amazing photos taken during the storm, but this one I wouldn't have imagined possible. Mother nature provided some very effective filtration. Incredible shot, but then you're known for them.

Congrats on the SpaceWeather feature and an exceptional image Dusty.

Steve you're too kind, thank you for your compliments mate, I was really excited when I opened the image on my desktop to see this result.

Nice shot but be careful without any filters! I didn't know there were any spots right now. I'll have to check Spaceweather.

Jon.
Thanks John, yes as I stress on my website, please don't try this if you're not experienced in imaging the sun and always use a proper filter.
These sunspots are 1026 and 1027 that have only developed recently.

Simply amazing, very well shot!

Cheers Robin.

Stunning image and unique for sure. Filtering using the sand! You're focus is also impecable. Obviously you know what you are doing.

I did something simmilar on the transit of venus several years ago. The quality of the picture not even near this one.

There where to many clouds that morning of june 8 (2004?) and I had remooved the filter to see the transit. I took picures and then re-inserted the diagonal and at that moment the clouds cleared up and the plastic cap at the end of the diagonal juste melted under my eyes ... I could not beleive it ...

Thanks for sharing I suggest you summit your image to APOD http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ as you have a winner.

Cheers

Michel

Thank you so much Michel, I appreciate your comments.
Yes I was very happy with the focus indeed, and was very fortunate to get the shot at just the right time when the dust levels were ideal for this shot.
I've done a lot of solar imaging over the years, transits, eclipses, supspot activity, but I wasn't expecting this level of detail during these conditions and without a filter.
I was basically just shooting to capture the moment since it was during the worst dust storm in 70 years.
I've already submitted the image to APOD and I've recieved an email from Jerry that they are considering my submission.
:D

Nice Dusty ! I've seen the Sun here like that with dust storms we've had here in the past .
Thanks Ron.
I've seen it many times like this during our bushfire seasons too, I just haven't imaged this level of detail without any use of filters whatsoever.

Cheers