Solar Prominences of The Great American Eclipse, 2017

• Telescope: Stellarvue SVA130T-IS
• Mount: Losmandy G-11 with Gemini 2 controller
• Autoguiding: No
• Optical Configuration: 0.72x field flattener & reducer (f/5); no solar filter during totality
• Camera: Canon 60Da
• Light Frame(s): Single, 1/500-sec exposure
• Calibration: None (no darks, no flats, no biases)
• Exposure Time: 1/500 sec
• ISO: 100
• Processing: Photoshop CC
• Imaging Location: Prairie City, Ore.

During the totality phase of a total solar eclipse, prominences sometimes can be seen along the limb of the sun. The image above shows two such prominences and several smaller ones that appeared during the 2017 solar eclipse (The Great American Eclipse).

Prominences consist of a hot, dense plasma that usually follows the magnetic field lines of the sun, arcing thousands of miles above the surface (photosphere).

[Many thanks to the Emmels of Prairie City, Ore., who made their ranch available to grateful eclipse viewers like me. Their hospitality made the experience even more enjoyable for all of us.]