The Sun - solar activity

Major solar activity is currently underway with a very large sunspot group near the centre of the sun's disc. It's surface area is greater than that of Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars combined. Apparently it can be seen with the naked eye - make sure to use a proper solar filter if you intend taking a peek though. Another large spot is just starting to rotate into view on the sun's limb. This should be easier to see over the next week or so.
Aurora warning has been issued for Europe for Friday night/Saturday morning.

Have a look here for the latest pics of the sun.
sohowww.nascom.nasa.gov/

Michael.

Apparently it can be seen with the naked eye - make sure to use a proper solar filter if you intend taking a peek though.

It was easily visible earlier in the week with eclipse shades. Havent looked since our 30hour thunder storm abated!

Cheers,
~Al

Just had a peek during a coffee break and the spot is still visible without any magnification.

Binoculars show that the group is large but apperas to be spreading out. another group is starting to come across at about the same latitude.

Keeping a tripod, binoculars and baader filters in the boot of the car can be useful sometimes

Cheers,
~Al

Apparently it can be seen with the naked eye - make sure to use a proper solar filter if you intend taking a peek though.
Michael.

Folks,
is Grade 14EW Welders Glass still acceptable for viewing the sun?? Is there any kind of UV ray danger on the eyes or anything???

Seanie.

groups.yahoo.com/group/auroralobserving/

Is the main yahoogroup for aurorae, and is maintained by Dr. Brian O'Halloran. a low traffic list averaging just over a mail a day so if youre interested in auroras[1] you know where to go..

Cheers,
~Al

[1] Not sure if the plural of aurora is auroras or aurorae so I used both!

Showed this to about 40 students and teachers at Mayfield Community school Cork today using an 85mm refractor and Baader solar filter cell, another sunspot no 486 is about the same size and both look impressve, this went down very well athough one bright spark suggested that there was a lot of dust on the filter!!! Students in afterwards in IT class went online to spaceweather.com and checked this out, This followed a word document with facts/figures and images based on the planet Neptune yesterday.