#prominences

[spaceexp]

During the total solar eclipse I could see solar prominences with my naked eyes. This shot shows an absolutely enormous one, the tiny dot is Earth added for scale.

[fuzzychief]

Captured Baily's beads, prominences, and the chromoshere.

[pcttrailsidereader]

Less Is More Prominent

We shared a recent post that laid out the prominences in the mountain west...that is the majority of the high peaks seen on or near the Pacific Crest Trail. As I read the post I was surprised the second highest peak in Washington state, and the first major prominence one walks near as they head north toward Canada, Mount Adams, is low on the list. Its bigger brother/sister, Mount Rainier tops the prominence list. Mount Rainier checks in at 14,411 feet but in terms of prominence shrinks to 13,246 feet. Remember, prominence is the vertical distance between a mountain’s summit and its key col, which is the lowest point on the highest ridge or saddle connecting the mountain to adjacent mountains. 'Lowly' Mount Adams measures 12,276 feet or 8,116 feet in terms of prominence or nine out of ten on the list of top ten prominences.

That is all fine and good and really, who am I to dispute geographic height? I am a short person so I am well aware of height differentials. In the case of Mount Adams, for me there is a profound distinction. The first ever section I walked on the PCT was from the Columbia River north. Looking south we saw the beautiful spire of Mount Hood. Distinct in its own way. I can remember commenting that it reminded me of the peak you see at the beginning of a movie from Paramount Pictures.

Within a day or so we found ourselves walking along the snowy flanks of Mount Adams. Wow! Adams is a large white snow cone of a mountain. As we rounded it we could look up to its icy heights. Growing up in Kansas, being this close to such a prominence was awe inspiring. Actually it was probably a bit more like shock and awe inspiring.

Since that time Mount Adams has had a special place in my memory and my heart. Unlike its volcanic siblings further north in Washington and those further south in Oregon and beyond, it is not as noticeable to many people. Many of the other Cascade volcanoes are visible from places like Seattle or Portland or at the least along the I-5 corridor. Adams peeks out (no pun intended) at Portland on a clear day but otherwise is too far east up the Columbia to be readily recognized. I think this adds to its mystique for me.

Two weeks ago I found myself back near Mount Adams attempting to climb to its summit. Those original feelings of awe and attraction swept over me. The PCT brought me close but this experience would literally take me the next level. To gain the summit is not a technical climb. No ropes or harnesses but crampons are helpful. Even with all my thrilling feelings the journey up was still quite a grunt. Nevertheless those old original 'first meeting' feelings powered me upward.

I guess the best way for me to describe my feelings for this mountain is I have a crush on it. There. I said it. Like any crush the feeling is not always reciprocal. Adams likely didn't even know I was there but I did. Every step was an acknowledgement of my admiration. Reaching the top there was that big shot, Mount Rainier waving back. Nearby was the decapitated poor old Mount Saint Helens. In the far distance Glacier Peak and Mount Baker. shining in their icy exuberance. The length of the remaining northbound PCT stretches north past them. Mount Adams' prominence may be lowly in the record books but to me, he/she/them holds a much higher position. I would take Mount Adams anywhere if they would have me.

[mystarypi-astronomy]

Here is a Solar Activity Poster that I created on Slooh! 

The solar flare on the left looks like a dragon coming out from the Sun! This year is a pretty active year for the Sun and hopefully there will be more solar activity in the future as well! 🐉🐉🐉

Taken by me (Michelle Park) using the Slooh Canary Five telescope. 

[captandoelcosmos-blog]

Today's image of the #sun shows quite a few #prominences, but almost no features in its #chromosphere. Imaged from home observatory. #puertorico #astronomy #astrophotography Original: https://flic.kr/p/2gCZUyR (at Isabela, Puerto Rico) https://www.instagram.com/p/B0J3d7fg2tm/?igshid=9rs0ubebijku

[alxndrasplace]

(NASA)  Black Sun and Inverted Starfield

Image Credit & Copyright: Jim Lafferty

Does this strange dark ball look somehow familiar? If so, that might be because it is our Sun. In the featured image from 2012, a detailed solar view was captured originally in a very specific color of red light, then rendered in black and white, and then color inverted. Once complete, the resulting image was added to a starfield, then also color inverted. Visible in the image of the Sun are long light filaments, dark active regions, prominences peeking around the edge, and a moving carpet of hot gas. The surface of our Sun can be a busy place, in particular during Solar Maximum, the time when its surface magnetic field is wound up the most. Besides an active Sun being so picturesque, the plasma expelled can also become picturesque when it impacts the Earth's magnetosphere and creates auroras.

[captandoelcosmos-blog]

Today's image of the #sun shows its #chrominence and a few #prominences. It's great how image contrast is improved when the etalons are properly tuned in the baby Lunt. Images from #puertorico. #solar #astrophotography #astronomy Original: http://www.captandoelcosmos.com/astrofotografia/sistema-solar/sol/cromosfera-y-prominencias-06-28-2019/ (at Isabela, Puerto Rico) https://www.instagram.com/p/BzRvktIFaHL/?igshid=455jivvkrtm8