Eduardo Schaberger Poupeau, a 50-year-old astrophotographer from Rafaela, Santa Fe, Argentina, recently captured an awe-inspiring phenomenon: a colossal wall of solar plasma extending 200,000 kilometers above the sun’s south pole. This remarkable image was taken on February 18, showcasing a rare and towering prominence, an event seldom observed as most prominences are typically found near the solar equator.
Eduardo shared that in order to accommodate the plasma column’s vastness within a single frame, he was compelled to rotate his camera, later adjusting the image’s orientation through editing to accurately depict its grandeur.
“Capturing this image was quite a challenge, as aside from enduring the very high temperatures of our summer,” he explained in a statement, reports SWNS. “There was significant turbulence and cloud cover frequently interrupting my work. Nevertheless, it was truly a wonderful spectacle, undoubtedly worth the effort.”
Atmospheric turbulence, a significant challenge in high-resolution astrophotography, tends to distort and “shake” the image, sometimes making it appear as if it’s “boiling.” This effect is exacerbated when photographing the sun, as its heat causes the air layers above the horizon to warm and stir.
To counteract these difficulties, Eduardo employed a technique known as “Lucky Imaging.” This method involves capturing video sequences with numerous frames in hopes of coinciding with moments of atmospheric stability. He then meticulously selected and stacked between 70 to 100 of these frames to diminish digital noise, thus enhancing the image’s clarity.
Eduardo’s passion for the cosmos dates back to his childhood, when he would gaze at the night sky, mesmerized by its mysteries and the hidden wonders among the stars. Today, armed with his own equipment, he dedicates himself to capturing the solar system’s splendor, focusing particularly on the sun.
He describes each photography session as an encounter with the sublime, where the sun’s immense spots, the filaments that dance across its surface, and the prominences that ascend thousands of kilometers into space, all serve to reveal the magnificence and power of our star.
You can see more of Eduardo’s incredible work on his Instagram page.
SWNS writer Dean Murray contributed to this report
