Sun Spot Count

Affiliation
American Association of Variable Star Observers (AAVSO)
Wed, 06/20/2018 - 15:54

Hi All, 

I'm new to solar observing and would like to get some feedback on my set up and first two tentative observations 

My equipment consist of:

- 6" F/8 Newtonian 

- 50X, 75X, and 100X Brandon eyepieces

- Full aperture Baader white light solar filter

- Baader solar continuum eyepiece filter

Last two mornings my observations were:

Date = 06/19/2018, Time = 15:00 UTC, Sky Conditions = Fair/Hazy,  Count = 38 (3 clusters and 8 spots @ 75X)

6/20/2018, 14:32 UTC, Clear/good, 51, (3 clusters and 21 spots) 

Thanks in advance. 

Steve TST

 

 

Sun Spot Count is OK

Hi Steve,

All your equipment looks OK. The magnification may be a little high at 75 X, perhaps reduce that to less than 50 X if you can.  If you haven't already, please read the Solar Observing Guide: https://www.aavso.org/solar-observing-guide

And download the SunEntry software from here: https://www.aavso.org/sun-entry  If you have problems with the login you'll have to post a message to Sara Beck sara@aavso.org 

When you first login to the SunEntry please make sure your Header information is correct. And welcome to solar observing!!

Rodney

Affiliation
American Association of Variable Star Observers (AAVSO)
Thanks Rodney, I'm looking

Thanks Rodney, I'm looking forward to contributing to the group. 

I'll stick to 50x for my observations and review the manual. 

Take Care

Steve 

Affiliation
American Association of Variable Star Observers (AAVSO)
Hi Steve

Hi Steve

Here are my observations for those dates:

19
G
0738
2
4
24
2
0
4
0
2
4
DMIB
 

20
E
0740
3
18
48
3
0
18
0
3
18
DMIB
 

Don't be surprise about the difference, those groups were changing a lot and you did the estimations 7 hours after mine. 

My material is a refractor 102/1000 with a white light glass objective filter.  Magnification 50x.

For fun I attach the sketch I did June 20th.

 

File upload
Affiliation
American Association of Variable Star Observers (AAVSO)
Warwick meeting anyone?

Hi!

Is there someone from the Solar Obs Section who will attend the Warwick meeting? For reasons that are too complicated to explain here I've got a few questions (concerning the history and future of sun-spot counting in more general terms) that I'd like to discuss with people who are participating in this section.

CS

HBE

Affiliation
American Association of Variable Star Observers (AAVSO)
Solar Drawing

Michel,

Apologies for the long delay, I didn't notice that you attached a sketch  to your post above. Your drawing is exceptional and i appreciate you  sharing .

Steve

sunspot count

Hi Steve,

Your count is way too high for this latest Active Region 2737.   There is only 1 group and perhaps 8 to 13 sunspots at most.  Not sure what you mean by clusters, but seems like you thinking a 'cluster' is a group.  Please look over this Sunspotsandpores.pdf  (attached). 

Perhaps try to reduce your magnification and eyepiece to around 25 mm.

Rodney

 

Affiliation
American Association of Variable Star Observers (AAVSO)
Sun Spot Count

Hello Steve, welcome to solar observing! I will echo Rodney's recommendation of taking a look at the solar observing manual.  Only modest equipment and safe solar filters are necessary for observing the Sun. I use a TeleVue 76mm Apo with a Nagler 7mm Type 6 eyepiece and full aperture white light filter. I hope you will enjoy safe solar viewing!

Larry Krozel

Affiliation
American Association of Variable Star Observers (AAVSO)
Oops

Sorry Folks, I was just looking through some old post and  commenting on Michael's drawing that I missed originally. The sunspot count mentioned in the first post was from 20 June 2018 when I started this thread.

I've appreciated all the advice  and suggestions you all have provided and have implemented them in my solar observing program.

FYI From my notes: My last count was on 02 April 2019, 1 group / 6 spots, @50X. 

Again apologies for the confusion. 

Take Care

Steve 

Edit: I did some digging and believe the count made in the original post was for active regions  2713, 2714, 2715. Please correct me if I'm wrong. 

Steve