The Sun Now shows images from the ESAC Solar Observatory (Helios) located in Villafranca del Castillo (Spain). Helios is a 9cm Ηα telescope together with a small 10cm refractor installed at ESAC to perform solar observations during the day. The images will be shown in near-real-time (updated every 30 seconds) when available. The app also shows some of the best time-lapse videos of the Mercury Transit that occurred on May 9th and the Venus transit in 2006. This activity is part of the CESAR programme (Cooperation through Education in Science and Astronomy Research), a joint educational and scientific programme developed by the European Space Agency (ESA), the Spanish National Institute for Aerospace Technology (INTA) and the company ISDEFE, conceived as a link between astronomy research and the education community.
Used to be much better...
I’ve had this for several years. Was pretty good until 29JAN2019, which is the last image I get. Got a reply to an email about 18 months ago, but no reply to 3 I’ve sent since January 2019. Looks like another piece of “abandonware”. Too bad. Guess I will just have to set up one of my Coronado h-alpha scopes and see for myself! Update 13 Jan 2020: Just gave it another try, thought it was still dead, but then today’s Hydogen Alpha image started to appear! The white light image only showed about 10%, but it tried. So looks like we can still use it, being patient for the download to finish. Changed my star count from one two three. I’ll happily go to five if it speeds up and operates consistently. It’s a nice app when it works.
United StatesA joke?
Is this a joke? Displays a solar image from 2016!
United States
New name and logo The Sun Now. minor bugs removed.
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