{"id":316,"date":"2023-09-22T09:58:06","date_gmt":"2023-09-22T16:58:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/debinitiative.org\/main\/?page_id=316"},"modified":"2025-10-16T06:24:41","modified_gmt":"2025-10-16T13:24:41","slug":"observations","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/debinitiative.org\/main\/observations\/","title":{"rendered":"Observations"},"content":{"rendered":"

[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_heading title=”X-class solar flare observation campaign” _builder_version=”4.26.1″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”2px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_heading][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_text_color=”#FFFFFF” text_font_size=”17px” custom_padding=”0px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

Program Overview<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Solar flares have a significant impact on space weather and life on earth.\u00a0 They are the most powerful explosive events in our solar system. The DEB Initiative is conducting daily solar observations in hopes of imaging solar disk changes during a white light X-class flare. These high energy solar flares produce large increases in the brightness of the solar disk in the flaring region that can be observed with the DEB Initiative solar telescopes at high cadence rates capable of capturing dynamic data as the flare occurs.<\/span><\/p>\n

The DEB Initiative observation setup is capable of sub-second frame rate, full solar disk imaging in white light. \u00a0The highest frame rates possible for the setup (up to 60fps) are achievable with a 15 second image capture on a one minute cadence.\u00a0 In other words, an observation setup operating at maximum frame rate can acquire 900 images (60 fps * 15 seconds) each minute.\u00a0 To sustain this high frame rate and achieve continuous solar observations, four DEB setups in the telescope network can be used to image the Sun at alternating quarters of a minute starting at 0 seconds, 15 seconds, 30 seconds and 45 seconds.\u00a0 At this high frame rate, just over 400MB of data is acquired each minute or around 25GB per hour per setup.\u00a0 While it is not possible for teams to save all data from several observations, we can save data from approximately +\/- 1 hour around a GOES (Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites) detected X class flare.<\/span><\/p>\n

How to Participate<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

This observation campaign is in beta phase and is open to any existing DEB team.\u00a0 Team leaders should review the Daily Observation Procedures.pdf<\/a> document and follow the observation checklist on the day they observe.\u00a0 Most importantly, make sure you sign up for an observation time in the document \u201cDaily_Observations signup_dates<\/em>.xlsx file where dates<\/em> = the current week you are observing. During the sign up, you will note which quarter you are observing to determine which script you will run.\u00a0 Signing up allows everyone to see who is observing so we can coordinate observation coverage and notify observers in the event of a detected flare. When you sign up, list your time in UTC, but use your current local date.\u00a0 You can lookup the UTC time for your timezone using a tool like https:\/\/www.timeanddate.com\/time\/difference\/timezone\/utc<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Data is saved automatically during the observation and quick look images are uploaded once every minute to debra.physics.siu.edu<\/a>.\u00a0 You can use the quick look images to verify you are on target throughout your observation time. \u00a0Color coding on debra has been added so anyone can easily see what sites are currently or have recently observed.<\/span><\/p>\n

Before you delete any data from your laptop, check the online signup document to see if there was a solar flare on the day you observed.\u00a0 If not, you can safely delete the data.\u00a0 If there was a flare, keep the data and coordinate with the DEB team to upload your raw data FITS files to us.<\/span><\/p>\n

Thank you for participating in DEB solar flare observations. During this beta phase, we welcome feedback from teams on procedures so that we can make improvements.<\/span><\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_heading title=”White light X4.5 flare observed 14 Sep 2024 ” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”2px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_heading][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/debinitiative.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/2-image-compare-flare.jpg” title_text=”2 image compare flare” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” background_layout=”dark” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

White light X4.5 flare <\/span>observed<\/span> on 14 Sep 2024 by DEB site 43 in Brandenburg, KY <\/span>operated<\/span> by volunteer Jonathan Mangin.\u202f Images show <\/span>detail<\/span> of the flare region over approximately 10 minutes before (1), and during (2) peak flare activity.\u202f<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/debinitiative.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/subframe_flat00-ANIMATION_movie.gif” alt=”Flare animation” title_text=”subframe_flat00-ANIMATION_movie” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” background_layout=”dark” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

Animation of 14 Sep 2024 flare observation.\u00a0 The animation shows an average of 50% of raw images taken at 60 second cadence with the flare appearing as a small white spot moving below the sunspot group.\u00a0 The raw data is at about 20 frames per second which would be a new regime for white light flare observations<\/span>
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[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_heading title=”Coronal Observations” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_heading][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” text_text_color=”#FFFFFF” custom_padding=”2px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

During a total solar eclipse, the Moon blocks the intense direct light from the solar disk revealing the solar corona (the Sun’s atmosphere).\u00a0 It is at this time that ground based telescopes can observe the corona.\u00a0 While a single telescope captures a static image of the corona from one location, the 82 telescopes in the DEB Initiative network\u00a0 collect data from many sites over time showing the dynamics or movement of the corona. This was done during the April 8, 2024 total solar eclipse when 378 DEB Initiative volunteers captured coronal data from Mexico to Canada.\u00a0 This data can be used to study the inner corona and augment space based coronal data collected by the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) LASCO coronagraph, an imaging instrument that creates artificial solar eclipses by blocking out the sun with an occulting disk.\u00a0 The DEB data fills in a gap twice the radius of the sun left in the center of the FOV of the LASCO C2 instrument.\u00a0
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[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/debinitiative.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Lasco_Shran.jpg” title_text=”Lasco_Shran” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” max_height=”480px” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_text_color=”#FFFFFF” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

A preliminary DEB HDR image from site 063 (H. Schran) is aligned with the LASCO C2 Coronograph taken during the April 8, 204 total solar eclipse. Image on the left shows DEB coronal data overlayed as transparency. DEB data detail is shown in the region of\u00a0 1 – 2 solar radii – the size of the occultation disk on LASCO C2.\u00a0 The black circle in the center of the image is the Moon.
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[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/debinitiative.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/7_63_33_blink_.2_500px.gif” alt=”Blink compare of coronal images” title_text=”7_63_33_blink_.2_500px” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” max_height=”480px” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_text_color=”#FFFFFF” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

Blink comparison of DEB sites 7 (Vail High School students observing in Oklahoma), 63 (Talawanda High School students observing in Ohio) and 33 (Jeremy Wright observing in Maine) .\u00a0 The animated 3-frame GIF is comprised of a single HDR image from each site and shows coronal evolution over approximately 40 minutes. Lots of interesting coronal changes are already apparent in this preliminary data!<\/em><\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_heading title=”Training Videos” _builder_version=”4.24.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_heading][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.24.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”0px||4px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

DEB training videos were made possible through our partnership with Einstein’s Incredible Universe (EIU), an NSF funded project led by Cosmic Picture. Videos were produced by the Center of Teaching Excellence at SIU Carbondale. They are available in two different versions. The first version of the videos is split into two approximately 20 minute segments. These videos were produced specifically for our EIU girl groups, but are excellent training for any new DEB teams.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Training videos featuring two former Citizen CATE Experiment 2017 volunteers, Adriana Macieira and Sammy Hasler, are in two parts and available on Vimeo.<\/span><\/p>\n

DEB EIU training part 1, Introduction and Assembly <\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

DEB EIU training part 2, Observation Procedure<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

DEB Training featuring the DEB Coordinator, Chris Mandrell, is split into several small segments available on Vimeo. Note, this is the same training as above just explained in a slightly different way and split into smaller segments. These shorter segments are useful for teams looking to watch a shorter clip on a specific subject.<\/span><\/p>\n

DEB Training Segments – Mandrell<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_heading title=”Observation Equipment” _builder_version=”4.24.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_heading][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” text_text_color=”#FFFFFF” custom_padding=”2px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

We have distributed all our DEB equipment and have 82 teams in the project. Some of the teams are self funded and have purchased their own equipment. Teams that had existing equipment such as a tracking mount and a laptop have been able to participate by purchasing only the additional components they need. A full list of the equipment is provided below. Note that the cost of this equipment is approximately $1,800 per setup.<\/span><\/p>\n

Mount:<\/b> iOptron Skyhunter EQ\/AZ<\/span><\/p>\n

Telescope:<\/b> Askar FMA 180 Pro<\/span><\/p>\n

Camera:<\/b> Neptune-M Player 1 Camera<\/span><\/p>\n

Solar Filter:<\/b> 60mm Solar Filter, Rainbow Symphony, Black Polymer<\/span><\/p>\n

Adapter:<\/b> ZWO M42 to M48 Extender (16.5mm), ZWO T2-M48-16.5<\/span><\/p>\n

Extension Tube Kit: <\/b> SVBONY, SKU: F9190A<\/span><\/p>\n

Laptop: <\/b> Dell Inspiron 15 3520, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD<\/span><\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_heading title=”DEB Office Hours” _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_heading][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_text_color=”#FFFFFF” custom_padding=”2px||12px|||” hover_enabled=”0″ locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n

DEB team members with questions about observations encouraged to attend office hours hosted by Jacob Sink in our DEB Discord Lounge.\u00a0 If you need access to Discord contact your team or regional leader or email us at deb.initiative@gmail.com.\u00a0<\/a>
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Wednesday: 4 – 6pm central time<\/span><\/p>\n

Saturday: 10am – 2pm central time<\/span><\/p>\n

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Program Overview Solar flares have a significant impact on space weather and life on earth.\u00a0 They are the most powerful explosive events in our solar system. The DEB Initiative is conducting daily solar observations in hopes of imaging solar disk changes during a white light X-class flare. These high energy solar flares produce large increases […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"