Solar Astronomy 101
Figure 1 - Sun in White Light and Calcium-K, Eduardo Schaberger Poupeau
1. Introduction
As of June 21, the summer solstice, the Northern Hemisphere will officially have entered its summer season. This time of the year is typically highlighted by long sunny days, with June 21 actually having the longest daylight period of the entire year. For many astrophotographers, this unfortunately also represents less total darkness at night for imaging deep sky objects. While many find the summer months to be less than ideal for nighttime imaging, the long days of sunlight serve as a friendly reminder of the most readily available astronomy target in the skies, our own Sun!
Solar astrophotography has become increasingly popular in recent years thanks to the increased availability and affordability of solar equipment,