First solar session with 150mm f6 newt and Baader film filter

[Moonshane]

Hi all

Had my first view of the sun through my scope and home made full aperture filter. Superb to see our close neighbourhood star and there were lots of large and small sunspots and a surprising amount of detail.

Is there a 'best' resource that can allow me to identify the sunspots etc that I can see at any time? In fact, I just 'spotted' this Sunspots and I seem to recall seeing all of the ones named. The image shown is pretty much how I saw the sun today too. Very impressed.

[foundaplanet]

You can add this to your list www.SolarMonitor.org

This one NASA/Marshall Solar Physics has some good reading.

[iwatkins]

Site I check before setting up for solar: SDO - Solar Dynamics Observatory

Chers

Ian

[RikM]

The SOHO site in your first post is the one I use Shane. There is also the GONG site, but it's not as good.

[todd8137]

what color was the sun white? i saw some film at rother valley optics that was R G SOLAR FILM 30 quid a sheet but ut gave a orange grainy view of the sun and the sun spots where there as well ,do you think you would get video with a web cam ?

[Moonshane]

the sun is a natural white and the sky black and looks great. you could certainly use a webcam I am sure as with the moon. it's a very similar experience to lunar observing.

[markt]

Depends how many spots you want identifying - the spaceweather front page has a little sun that labels the larger spots, however for maximum detail try Solar Terrestrial Activity Report

[Moonshane]

that's a great site - thanks! I saw 11408 and 11410 yesterday quite easily. the others would have been possible with more time/better seeing.

[Moonshane]

see http://stargazerslounge.com/imaging-solar/173252-sun-28-january-2012-white-light.html

[Moonshane]

Just had another peek at the sun before the heavens opened!!

Managed to see sunspots 1418, 1419 and 1420 and also the white area shown on the left side near the limb shown here Sunspots

quite nice detail starting to shine through but rain stopped play unfortunately.

[MjrTom]

Nicely done Shane

I am currently imaging the sun as we speak

Not a great deal of sunspots but some nice faculae at the limb.

[Moonshane]

smarty pants! so that's what the real name of my 'white bits' are then? I'll remember that one. know almost nothing about solar terminology.

I forgot to say that this is actually with my 6" f5 not the now sold f6.

hope you get a good image matey.

[MjrTom]

smarty pants! so that's what the real name of my 'white bits' are then? I'll remember that one. know almost nothing about solar terminology.

I forgot to say that this is actually with my 6" f5 not the now sold f6.

hope you get a good image matey.

Lol no smarty pants on my part, I use a very well written website for my reference, done by one of the lads on this forum (sorry I forget your name!)

CCD moon and planets

Here is my image from today.

http://stargazerslounge.com/imaging-solar/176343-solar-white-light-18th-feb-2012-a.html

[David Smith]

I sketch the sun in white light when the weather / work give me the opportunity and use the site below for comparison.

SIDC - Solar Influences Data Center