Out of this world: Jaw-dropping Solar Images Captured By Backyard Astronomer

By Mark Hodge @mrhodgey

A BRITISH photographer has captured incredible solar images from an observatory he built in his back garden

Scroll down for the full story

Fire-starter: Several solar prominences spit matter into the solar system

Retired engineer, Dave Tyler captured these stunning pictures showing the ferocious activity on the sun's surface during its solar maximum – when the star is at its most active during its 11 year cycle.

Here comes the sun: a magnificent picture of the star taken by Dave Tyler

The amateur snapper is able to capture a wide variety of phenomena from his own home near High Wycombe, including sunspots, solar prominences, coronal loops and solar flares.

Forrest fire: Several solar prominences resemble a row of trees

The 72-year-old designed and built his own observatory in 1977 and now uses powerful telescopes to observe and photograph the solar system.

Solar power: A fiery battle rages on the sun's surface

Tyler first became interested in astronomy after seeing the first episode of the BBC's Sky at Night in 1957.

The sun during its solar maximum which is its most active period during its 11 year cycle

A solar war rages on the sun's surface during its solar maximum

He said: “I had always had a casual interest in astronomy ever since the first Sky at Night.

Mellow yellow: A sunspot snapped by Dave Tyler in his homemade conservatory

“However, more than a decade later a friend gave me an old Rross 3inch refractor which I cobbled onto a camera tripod.

A sun spot photographed by Dave Tyler who built his own observatory in his garden

“With this simple device I was able to look at Saturn, which left me truly amazed.

A prominence photographed by Dave who uses powerful telescopes to observe the solar system

“Like many other amateurs who have had the same experience, I was instantly launched into a life long passion with the subject.

“I am now very aware of my position in the solar system. The sun is awesome and many people do not even realise it is a star. Through my scopes it is an amazing sight.”