hi everyone,

just did a daily check on the Sun using a piece of number 14 grade welder's glass and there are THREE naked eye sunspot groups visible!!!

I knew there were two that were being monitored by people for X-Class flares, etc. but didn't realise that a third group had also swelled in size. Confirmed the observation with the www.spaceweather.com website images and Big Bear Solar Observatory in California.

from what I remember about the section on observing the Sun in Norton's Star Atlas, a sunspot or group would have to be at least three Earth-diameters to be visible to the naked eye.

make sure you do the observation first then check a web image to confirm. You'll be amazed!

John F.
South Dublin Astro. Soc.

Must dig out my eclips shades tomorrow and have a look. I'll let you all know how I got on.

Bart.

This has to be the most active I've ever seen the sun! Had a look today around 1:30pm. There is an interesting looking "ring" of spots which I havn't seen before...

Check out this pic I took today.

Very nice image there John. Saw the exact same thing today myself. That ring shape is strange indeed - don't remember seeing that yesterday.
Michael

That is just an amazing image ... very impressive.

Bart.

Looked great today, especially that ring of spots, easy to make out, 2 CME's also, possible glancing blows due some time next day or so
www.metcheck.com/space.asp
Global Space Weather Forecast

hi everyone,

what a great shot John ... congratulations ... it's a beautiful image and that ring group is a real wow!

the ring-shaped group is why I saw the third naked-eye group as more greyish or diffuse compared to the black full stops of the other two existing groups.

a definite shape to all three naked-eye groups was/is evident -- the main two are not perfectly round but slightly lobe-shaped with the "ring" group evidently fuzzy and flattened.

you'll be surprised how with a little patience you can tease out some "structure" in naked-eye sunspot groups!!!

best wishes and thanks again John for sharing the disk image with us in the group.

John F.
South Dublin Astro. Soc.