Astro-Shed

A capture and stack of 500 frames of the sun today. There are two major groupings of spots. I like how the grouping in the upper right has three distinct levels or shades of penumbra. This is less noticeable in the group in the lower right image.

Also noticeable in the images is the sunspots occurring in pairs. These pairs, typically consist of a stronger, darker sunspot and a slightly lighter companion, and result from the sun’s magnetic field dynamics. The formation of sunspot pairs can be linked to solar activity cycles, reflecting the ebb and flow of solar processes that influence not only space weather but also the Earth’s own magnetic environment. Scientists closely monitor these phenomena as they provide critical insights into the sun’s behavior and its impact on the solar system.

These images were taken with a special optical filter on the telescope which reduces the amount of light reaching the camera. Never point a telescope to the sun without an approved solar filter as it will damage your equipment or even worse, your eyes.

NASA maintains a website for its Solar Dynamic Observatory where you can see current views of the Sun through different wavelength filters which offer unique views of the Sun. Each of the filters offer amazing views of our nearest star.