H alpha solar telescope at Hiraiso and its initial observations

A new H alpha solar telescope for the forecast of solar activity and the research on energetic phenomena of the sun has been constructed at Hiraiso Solar Terrestrial Research Center in Japan (Regional Warning (C)enter of IUWDS). Its main features are (1) high resolution digital full-disk H alpha images with a 2 K by 2 K CCD, (2) real-time data processing with an automatic frame-selection technique, (3) spectroscopic observation with an automatic wavelength shift of H alpha Lyot filter. Because of these advanced features, continuous observations of the sun with this system will provide more reliable data for the forecast of solar activity and its influence on the space environment.