<--- Look! Sunspot!

sheeny (Al) · #1 27-10-2009, 05:24 PM

I was a bit surprised to find a spot on the SOHO image at the left there

.

Unfortunately, I have cloudy skies (and I expect to for a while after my purchases

), so who can see the sun?

C'mon, we want images!

Al.

AstralTraveller (David) · #2 27-10-2009, 05:30 PM

I saw the SOHO image yesterday. Of course it was raining. Today it's just very very cloudy. Let's hope it is the harbinger of more sunspots to come and the sky is clear on the weekends. I've had a solar filter for years now and have only used it 3-4 times.

Robh (Rob) · #3 27-10-2009, 06:46 PM

Al,
I thought it was just a dirty spot on my screen!
I didn't realise the image was continually updated.

Thanks, Rob

Darth Wader (Wade) · #4 27-10-2009, 07:07 PM

What's a "sunspot"?

sheeny (Al) · #5 27-10-2009, 07:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robh

Al,
I thought it was just a dirty spot on my screen!
I didn't realise the image was continually updated.

Thanks, Rob

I think I've had a similar problem... it's been so long I haven't been taking much notice of the SOHO image...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darth Wader

What's a "sunspot"?

A sunspot is an area of the sun's surface that is slightly cooler than the rest. It is caused by a strong local magnetic field that disrupts the convection of heat to the surface at that spot.

Sunspots usually vary in an eleven year cycle, but we've just recently gone through and extended minimum (not many sunspots).

Al.

Kal (Andrew) · #6 27-10-2009, 08:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darth Wader

What's a "sunspot"?

Something the sun used to show us before we were born I think

Craig.a.c (Craig) · #7 27-10-2009, 09:53 PM

I noticed it yesterday. I have to make a solar filter to fit over the small hole on the dust cap for 12" dob so I can check it out.

dpastern (Dave Pastern) · #8 27-10-2009, 10:08 PM

I spotted several sunspots on Sunday, at least Six smaller ones according to my eyes.

Dave

Jen · #9 27-10-2009, 10:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robh

Al,
I thought it was just a dirty spot on my screen!
I didn't realise the image was continually updated.

Thanks, Rob

Yeah i thought that too

Darth Wader (Wade) · #10 27-10-2009, 10:54 PM

Woops, double post

Darth Wader (Wade) · #11 27-10-2009, 10:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sheeny

A sunspot is an area of the sun's surface that is slightly cooler than the rest. It is caused by a strong local magnetic field that disrupts the convection of heat to the surface at that spot.

Sunspots usually vary in an eleven year cycle, but we've just recently gone through and extended minimum (not many sunspots).

I was kidding, hence the

... it's been such a long time I thought most of us would have forgotten what they were!

This lull in solar activity is the reason I've held out on buying a solar filter

gary · #12 27-10-2009, 11:06 PM

Hi Al,

Thanks for the heads-up.

It's only one drop, but does it signal that the drought might be over over?

sheeny (Al) · #13 28-10-2009, 07:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darth Wader

I was kidding

It was just convincingly a newbie question... well done, you suckered me.

Al.

OneOfOne (Trevor) · #14 28-10-2009, 07:44 AM

I am hoping a few more appear in the next couple of weeks. MPAS will have a small stand at the Bentleigh Festival (Melbourne) on Sunday 15th November and I will have my PST there to show to passers by. We did the same thing last year but there wasn't a thing to be seen.

If you live nearby, drop in and say hi....you may win a prize in our free raffle (Lunar or Martian meteorite)

Kal (Andrew) · #15 28-10-2009, 08:12 AM

I've made a new solar filter for my 5" refractor a couple of weeks ago too. Got some sun activity now just need the clouds to go away!

Esseth (Alan) · #16 28-10-2009, 09:12 AM

I really hope the cycle starts kicking it into gear soon, as id love to head down to tassie maybe at the end of next year for a holiday and i want to see aurora

Jabba (Keenan) · #17 28-10-2009, 02:40 PM

wow thats cool, first sun spot ive ever seen!... and thanks for explaining what a sun spot is, because I didnt know!

mojo (Terry) · #18 28-10-2009, 03:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robh

Al,
I thought it was just a dirty spot on my screen!
I didn't realise the image was continually updated.

Thanks, Rob

Yep. The SOHO image on the left is automatically updated every hour.

Jabba (Keenan) · #19 28-10-2009, 03:44 PM

Do sun spots have any negative affects on Earth?

robin · #20 28-10-2009, 04:14 PM

Been watching this group for a few days now. Had a look at them today & its about time we had a whole dog breakfast of sunspots to observe. Bring 'em on.