High resolution reconstruction of solar prominence images observed by the New Vacuum Solar Telescope

• Published in: New astronomy Vol. 49; pp. 8 - 12
• Main Authors: Xiang, Yong-yuan, Liu, Zhong, Jin, Zhen-yu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.11.2016
• Subjects: Alignment; Calibration; High resolution; Image reconstruction; Methods: solar image reconstruction; Reconstruction; Solar prominences; Space telescopes; Sun: prominences; Techniques: speckle imaging; Techniques: speckle imaging; Methods: solar image reconstruction; Sun: prominences
• ISSN: 1384-1076; 1384-1092
• DOI: 10.1016/j.newast.2016.05.002

•We proposed a modified cross correlation method to align prominence data.•We compared the alignment accuracy of the conventional method and the modified method.•We successfully reconstructed the prominences and other off-limb objects observed by NVST.•The results demonstrate that the high resolution observation of solar prominence by a ground-based solar telescope is feasible. A high resolution image showing fine structures is crucial for understanding the nature of solar prominence. In this paper, high resolution imaging of solar prominence on the New Vacuum Solar Telescope (NVST) is introduced, using speckle masking. Each step of the data reduction especially the image alignment is discussed. Accurate alignment of all frames and the non-isoplanatic calibration of each image are the keys for a successful reconstruction. Reconstructed high resolution images from NVST also indicate that under normal seeing condition, it is feasible to carry out high resolution observations of solar prominence by a ground-based solar telescope, even in the absence of adaptive optics.