The Sun 18-10-08 - Surprise! Massive Prom

A lovely sunny morning today although cold and windy with swirls of falling leaves gusting past. Having set up the imaging kit I slowly focused the PST Ha while watching the image on the laptop. The IC Capture software had been set up to expose for proms and the edge of the sun came into sharp focus. I scanned the round the limb looking for detail when WOWZAAAAA !!! a truly monster prominence appeared which filled the screen so much I had to zoom out! A huge complex arc of plasma was heading over the NW limb. I put up an early alert on the CN solar forum and before long pictures from other UK solar imagers were rolling in. Managed a brief 10 minute Live broadcast before the clouds and drizzle rolled in for the rest of the day.