The Sun

Following a spot group on successive days reveals movement across the disc and changes within the group. Make your own simple drawing; the site's illustration does not supply current sunspot positions.

Never look at the Sun with unprotected eyes. Use undamaged solar viewers that comply with ISO 12312-2, following their instructions, for direct viewing without magnification. A very large sunspot group can sometimes be detected, but most spots need safely filtered optics. Ordinary sunglasses are unsuitable.

Both front apertures need securely attached filters approved for visual solar use before the binoculars are aimed. Properly equipped, supported binoculars can show larger spots as small dark marks. Eclipse glasses worn at the eyepieces do not make unfiltered binoculars safe.

With the correct solar protection fitted, begin at low power with the full disc visible. A small telescope can separate a large spot's dark umbra from its lighter penumbra. Increase power only during steady moments; medium or large aperture does not overcome boiling daytime air. Fine penumbral structure is a more demanding observation than detecting the spot.

Inspect filters and their fit before each session, following the manufacturer. Cap, remove or safely filter the finder; supervise children throughout. Stop if protection is damaged or insecure. Heat rising from paving or nearby buildings degrades detail, so compare safe observing positions before blaming the optics.

White-light solar protection is mandatory for an ordinary telescope pointed at the Sun. Lunar, colour and nebula filters are unsuitable. Prominences require specialised solar equipment such as a complete purpose-built hydrogen-alpha system; a night-sky H-alpha filter is not a substitute.

Sunspot visibility depends on solar activity as well as equipment and seeing. The warm or cool tint of a filtered view can come from the filter itself. Do not expect the bright loops and textured atmosphere of specialised solar images in a white-light view.