The image shows the classic Prairie View Solar Observatory (PVSO), prior to its renovation and the construction of the Solar Observatory Addition. Solar observations had been collected here from 1999 until 2015. The primary instrument at PVSO is a 35-cm Gregorian vacuum telescope, which was equipped with a Daystar H-alpha filter (0.5Å FWHM) and a SXVF-H16 CCD camera system. We had use this configuration for our routine observations and the resulting images are approximately 7 arcminutes across. In addition to the main telescope, we had been equipped with a Full Disk Solar Telescope and an Magneto Optical Filter.
Currently solar observations have been moved to the East Dome of the Solar Observatory Addition. The research interests of the solar group included solar active regions, erupting prominences and small solar magnetic fields. Apart from images acquired at our observatory, we also use the satellite data (SOHO, Hinode) and data from other ground-based observatories.
Click here for a sampling of our Solar Observations (2005 to 2015).