USCHOLD@RUTGERS@sri-unix (07/16/82)
I heard once long ago that sunspots are visible with the naked eye in the right conditions. Right now I'm looking out my window and wondering if I'm seeing one. Sun is dim orange, allowing me to stare right at it, (oh how I wish I had binoculars... Description of spot: Time: 7:55 pm. Place: Piscataway N.J; Dist above horizon: 1.5-2 inches at arm's length (or 6-10 sun diameters) Relatively long black "slit" in lower right quadrant near center. The slit starts almost at center and starts to split that quadrant into two octants. It's not long enough, of course, (approx 1/5 of a sun radii) and it's curved downwards slightly and more 'black' near the center. Can anyone out there verify this sighting? Is there a huge sunspot "going on" at this time. (Yes, I cleaned my glasses and opened the window as a first check...) Thanx, Mike -------
Lynn.ES@PARC-MAXC@sri-unix (07/20/82)
A co-worker of mine enquired about a similar naked eye sunspot sighting June 15. I verified that there were TWO sunspot groups (each group appears as a single spot to the naked eye) visible to the naked eye on the next clear day here, June 19, though one group was just barely visible. The rotation period of the sun is about 27 days at the place where the largest spot group was. It appears that the same group has come around again. I checked it out yesterday with solar filter, both naked eye and with binoculars. The spot group is right where you described it, but was just too faint for me to see it without binoculars. It has dissipated considerably since June. Caution: If you try viewing the sun, even at sunset/sunrise when it is considerably dimmed by our atmosphere, get a filter made for solar viewing; otherwise you are risking eye damage. /Don Lynn