Uploaded June 2026 | Updated September 2026, 14 minutes ago
Three views of the same active region, each revealing a different layer of the Sun.
The yellow view is a 540 nm photosphere image. It shows the sunspot in sharp detail, including the dark umbra, surrounding penumbra, smaller pores, and the fine background granulation of the solar surface.
The violet view is Calcium K at 393.4 nm, showing the upper photosphere and lower chromosphere. Here, bright magnetic plage stands out strongly around the active region. Fine sunspot detail is reduced compared with white light, but the larger pores remain visible.
The orange view is Hydrogen-alpha at 656.28 nm, revealing the Sun’s mid chromosphere. Instead of granulation, we see fibrils and mottled chromospheric structure shaped by magnetic fields. Plage remains visible as brighter patches, while many pores are partly hidden beneath the overlying H-alpha fibril canopy.
Together, these wavelengths show why the Sun looks so different through different filters: each one samples a different height and physical process in the solar atmosphere.
Want to learn how I did this? Check out my comprehensive Solar Observer's Handbook: azastroguy.com/solar-handbook
If you found this video of interest, and are considering investing in a solar telescope or equipment, I would appreciate you using one of my affiliate links. If you make a qualifying purchase it will cost you nothing, but I will receive a small commission. Thanks!
Agena Astro: bit.ly/3qfWaZS
Highpoint Scientific: bit.ly/4p7f7HA
Lunt solar products: https://luntsolarsystems.com/?rfsn=87...
Want to buy me a coffee? It's appreciated! buymeacoffee.com/azastroguy
I used the following equipment to capture this sequence:
TEC160FL refractor
Baader 160mm ERF
Solar Spectrum 0.3Å Ha etalon
Solar Spectrum 0.5Å CaK etalon
Player One 540nm photosphere filter
Baader 4x Telecentric
Player One Apollo-M cameras
Software: Sharpcap Pro, Autostakkert, ImPPG, Affinity Photo 2
Three views of the same active region, each revealing a different layer of the Sun.
The yellow view is a 540 nm photosphere image. It shows the sunspot in sharp detail, including the dark umbra, surrounding penumbra, smaller pores, and the fine background granulation of the solar surface.
The violet view is Calcium K at 393.4 nm, showing the upper photosphere and lower chromosphere. Here, bright magnetic plage stands out strongly around the active region. Fine sunspot detail is reduced compared with white light, but the larger pores remain visible.
The orange view is Hydrogen-alpha at 656.28 nm, revealing the Sun’s mid chromosphere. Instead of granulation, we see fibrils and mottled chromospheric structure shaped by magnetic fields. Plage remains visible as brighter patches, while many pores are partly hidden beneath the overlying H-alpha fibril canopy.
Together, these wavelengths show why the Sun looks so different through different filters: each one samples a different height and physical process in the solar atmosphere.
Want to learn how I did this? Check out my comprehensive Solar Observer's Handbook: azastroguy.com/solar-handbook
If you found this video of interest, and are considering investing in a solar telescope or equipment, I would appreciate you using one of my affiliate links. If you make a qualifying purchase it will cost you nothing, but I will receive a small commission. Thanks!
Agena Astro: bit.ly/3qfWaZS
Highpoint Scientific: bit.ly/4p7f7HA
Lunt solar products: https://luntsolarsystems.com/?rfsn=87...
Want to buy me a coffee? It's appreciated! buymeacoffee.com/azastroguy
I used the following equipment to capture this sequence:
TEC160FL refractor
Baader 160mm ERF
Solar Spectrum 0.3Å Ha etalon
Solar Spectrum 0.5Å CaK etalon
Player One 540nm photosphere filter
Baader 4x Telecentric
Player One Apollo-M cameras
Software: Sharpcap Pro, Autostakkert, ImPPG, Affinity Photo 2
