NJIT's Big Bear Observatory Resolves to 50 miles of the Sun's Surface
New Jersey Institute of Technology's Big Bear Solar Observatory (BBSO) has achieved "first light" with an new adaptive optics deformable mirror telescope. Images of a sunspots, the most detailed ever obtained in visible light, were released to showcase its resolution. The images were made with the 1.6 meter clear aperture, off-axis New Solar Telescope (NST), which has a resolution covering about 50 miles of the Sun's surface.
Comments:
Sunspots appear black and featureless only because of the relative contrast between the spot and the surrounding area in images that have been dialed down to allow us to see detail. I have included a histograph stretched rendition of the photo included in the article which clearly shows that light and detail are, indeed, visible in the sunspot area (all I did was dial up the voltage and, voila, the details became visible)<br><br>-Paul S. Walsh (hoping I haven't misinterpreted your question)
Thanks Paul, I had heard that explanation before but have never seen the proof until now.<br><br>George<br>
Funding Member
