Number 8's a Big One, 2002/6/23

This weekend I followed the three large sunspots currently traversing the sun. The biggest of which, designated number 8, could easily be seen, despite hazy conditions, without optical aid. Yesterday number 8 displayed a very complex umbral structure. I used polymer solar eclipse shades and my 114mm f/7.9 C4.5 Newtonian at 53 and 82x to view the day star.

For a current solar image see
http://www.spaceweather.com/images2002/24jun02/midi512_blank.gif

Dave Mitsky