Dancing Fire at the Edge of the Sun: Capturing Solar Prominences in Hydrogen Alpha

As an amateur astronomer with a deep love for both the night sky and our nearest star, I recently had the opportunity to image the Sun using a hydrogen-alpha solar telescope and the result still amazes me. Not the best photo I hope to improve my imaging technique

The photo you see here was taken through an H-alpha filter, which isolates a very narrow wavelength of light (656.28 nm) emitted by excited hydrogen atoms. This filter allows us to peer into the Sun’s chromosphere, the layer just above the visible surface (the photosphere). It reveals features we simply can’t see with a regular white light solar filter most notably, solar prominences, filaments, plages, and sunspot activity in stunning detail.

In this particular image, the Sun is brimming with dynamic activity. Along the limb, a striking solar prominence curls outward like a solar flame caught mid dance. These prominences are vast loops of plasma, shaped and held in place by the Sun’s magnetic field. They can span hundreds of thousands of kilometers and remain suspended for days or even weeks.

On the solar disk, darker thread like features called filaments can be seen these are actually prominences viewed against the face of the Sun. They appear dark because they’re cooler than the surrounding solar material. You’ll also notice brighter patches called plages these are active regions associated with sunspots, often preceding solar flares.

Capturing an image like this requires precision, patience, and the right conditions. The atmosphere must be steady, and the telescope must be finely tuned to the narrow hydrogen-alpha band. But when it all comes together, you’re rewarded with a glimpse into the raw power and beauty of our Sun a star that influences everything from space weather to our circadian rhythms here on Earth.

Whether you’re into astrophysics or just appreciate the marvels of nature, solar observing in H-alpha offers a humbling perspective: this fiery giant that rises each morning is a roiling, magnetic engine of energy and chaos.

And this is just one moment one heartbeat in its 4.6 billion-year

PixelatedDad

Dr. Chris Spencer, better known as PixelatedDad, is a retro gaming enthusiast and self-proclaimed geek who’s a few pixels short of a full sprite. Despite his age, he’s young at heart, often immersed in games older than his kids, with the reflexes of a sloth and the aim of a blindfolded monkey—but still determined to save the pixelated princess, one clumsy jump at a time. Beyond gaming, Chris is a distinguished computer scientist with a doctorate, a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society (FRAS), and a member of the Sherwood Observatory and the Planetary Society. As a Dark Sky Ambassador, he’s passionate about preserving the natural night sky and reducing light pollution. Chris is also a husband, proud dad of two sets of twins (#TwinsTwice), and a multitasker extraordinaire who balances coding, stargazing, 3D printing, and snuggling his loyal sidekick, Doggo McStuffin. Whether he’s gaming, championing dark skies, or exploring the cosmos, life for Chris is a journey worth every pixel.

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