Formation of large Sunspot Group

A prominent group of sunspots is currently observable using safe solar viewing methods.

[See the following article: https://www.sydneycityskywatchers.org/single-post/safe-solar-observing]

I could not see the sunspots using eclipse glasses, though they were clearly visible using 8 x 30 binoculars fitted with solar filters.

The following photo, taken April 23 2022 at 1:28PM EST, was produced using a Panasonic Lumix FZ300 camera, once again fitted with a solar filter. The filter material is commercially available Baader Solar Film. This is not expensive but completely safe for sun observation if you are prepared to use it to make your own filter housing. Use this or any commercially available solar filter. Don’t risk your eyes (or camera), using standard camera filters.

The settings on the camera were: 600mm focal length, ISO 100, f2.8, 1/4000th sec, using manual focus. Using Adobe Lightroom, the original photo was heavily cropped [even at a focal length of 600mm, the sun’s image is only a small part of the photo] and the exposure adjusted down to darken the sun’s disk. There was also a bit of sharpening.

Andrew Wood