Embedded Files
Steve Boerner
Chesterfield, MO 63017
AL Member at Large
sboerner@charter.net
Sunspotter Observing Program
In the Sunspotter Observing Program, you will make two sets of drawings or take two sets of images. The first set is five detailed sketches or images of sunspot groups. The second set is 20 or more sketches or images of the whole solar disk during two solar rotations (one rotation is about 30 days).
Twenty or more images of the whole solar disk during two solar rotations
All images below were taken from my driveway in Chesterfield, MO with either a Dwarflab Dwarf II smart scope or a Meade RB-70 refractor with a Herschel wedge. The Dwarf II smart scope is controlled with an Android device and is stand-alone needing only a tripod for mounting. The Dwarf II has an aperture of 24mm and a focal length of 100mm (supposedly the combination is equivalent to 675 mm) with a supplied neutral density filter. The Meade scope was originally my daughter-in-law's as a gift from her parents last century. The Meade scope has an aperture of 70mm and a focal length of 700mm. While I do have other longer FL refractors the Meade was chosen because it was the only one that had enough in focus with a DSLR to get a sharp image while capturing the entire solar disk. Focusing was problematic, but the resulting images resemble the SOHO daily images in detail. The Meade scope and Canon T7i camera were mounted on an alt/az iOptron MiniTower mount.
All images are the result of processing with a variety of software. The original compressed MP4 videos from the Dwarf II and Canon T7i were converted to uncompressed AVIs with Planetary Image Post Processor (PIPP) so they could be read by AutoStakkert 3.1.4. AutoStakert was used to stack the best 10% of the frames and sharpen the image. That image was opened with RegiStax 6 for work with wavelets.
The images were rotated with PhotoShop so that the north would be straight up to match the SOHO images. Canon DSLR images were flipped vertically (they are upside down from the camera) and then rotated 60-70 degrees to correct for the field rotation caused by the time of exposure. The Dwarf II camera images were rotated 60-70 degrees for field rotation but not flipped.
An image taken by SOHO is included below to see the number of groups/sunspots. Sunspot groups listed by SOHO but not seen in my images are listed as ---. Sunspot groups seen in my images but not assigned a number are identified by their location in my images.
#: 1
Date: 7/22/2023
Time: 10:24 a.m. CDT
Seeing: fair
Clouds: light
Wind: none
Camera: Canon T7i
Filter: Lunt Herschel wedge
ISO/Gain: 100
Shutter Speed: 1/3200 sec.
Video Length: 32 sec.
Frames: 1976
Stacking: AutoStakkert
Post Processing: RegiStax 6
Observation:
Direct via imaging
Total Sunspot Count:
Groups (G): N: 3 + S: 1 = 4
Spots (S): N: 35 + S: 7 = 42
Wolf Sunspot Number (R):
R = 10G +S = 82
Sunspot number and Class
3372 CSO
3373 DAI
3376 HSX
3377 DSO
3378 HRX
3379 CSO
#: 2
Date: 7/25/2023
Time: 10:35 a.m. CDT
Seeing: good
Clouds: none
Wind: light
Camera: Canon T7i
Filter: Lunt Herschel wedge
ISO/Gain: 100
Shutter Speed: 1/4000 sec.
Video Length: 32 sec.
Frames: 1962
Stacking: AutoStakkert
Post Processing: RegiStax 6
Observation:
Direct via imaging
Total Sunspot Count:
Groups (G): N: 3 + S: 2 = 5
Spots (S): N: 16 + S: 6 = 22
Wolf Sunspot Number (R):
R = 10G +S = 72
Sunspot number and Class
3373 HXS
3376 DAC
3377 DSO
3378 AXX
3379 CSO
3380 AXX
3381 -----
3382 AXX
3383 AXX
#: 3
Date: 7/27/2023
Time: 11:01 a.m. CDT
Seeing: good
Clouds: none
Wind: light
Camera: Canon T7i
Filter: Lunt Herschel wedge
ISO/Gain: 100
Shutter Speed: 1/3200 sec.
Video Length: 35 sec.
Frames: 2114
Stacking: AutoStakkert
Post Processing: RegiStax 6
Observation:
Direct via imaging
Total Sunspot Count:
Groups (G): N: 3 + S: 3 = 6
Spots (S): N: 12 + S: 14 = 26
Wolf Sunspot Number (R):
R = 10G +S = 86
Wilson effect to the left of #3386 and left edge
Sunspot number and Class
3377 DSO
3379 CSO
3380 CSO
3382 AXX
3383 AXX
3384 BXO
3385 ARX
3386 DAI
SIDE TOP CAO
SIDE BOTTOM CAO
#: 4
Date: 7/29/2023
Time: 02:45 p.m. CDT
Seeing: excellent
Clouds: clear
Wind: none
Camera: Canon T7i
Filter: Lunt Herschel wedge
ISO/Gain: 100
Shutter Speed: 1/3200 sec.
Video Length: 33 sec.
Frames: 2026
Stacking: AutoStakkert
Post Processing: RegiStax 6
Observation:
Direct via imaging
Total Sunspot Count:
Groups (G): N: 2 + S: 3 = 5
Spots (S): N: 14 + S: 20 = 34
Wolf Sunspot Number (R):
R = 10G +S = 84
Sunspot number and Class
3377 ---
3379 AXX
3380 DAI
3384 ---
3385 AXX
3386 EAI
3387 CSO
3388 CRO
3389 AXX
3390 BXO
LEFT TOP AXX
#: 5
Date: 7/30/2023
Time: 10:37 a.m. CDT
Seeing: fair
Clouds: light
Wind: none
Camera: Dwarf II
Filter: Dwarf Lab ND filter
ISO/Gain: 0
Shutter Speed: 1/320 sec.
Video Length: 30 sec.
Frames: 1798
Stacking: AutoStakkert
Post Processing: RegiStax 6
Observation:
Direct via imaging
Total Sunspot Count:
Groups (G): N: 2 + S: 3 = 5
Spots (S): N: 9 + S: 11 = 20
Wolf Sunspot Number (R):
R = 10G +S = 70
Sunspot number and Class
3379 AXX
3380 EAI
3385 ---
3386 EAI
3387 CRO
3388 AXX
3389 CSO
3390 BXO
3391 AXX
#: 6
Date: 8/5/2023
Time: 04:27 p.m. CDT
Seeing: fair
Clouds: light
Wind: light
Camera: Dwarf II
Filter: Dwarf Lab ND filter
ISO/Gain: 0
Shutter Speed: 1/320 sec.
Video Length: 30 sec.
Frames: 917
Stacking: AutoStakkert
Post Processing: RegiStax 6
Observation:
Direct via imaging
Total Sunspot Count:
Groups (G): N: 4 + S: 0 = 4
Spots (S): N: 13 + S: 2 = 15
Wolf Sunspot Number (R):
R = 10G +S = 55
Sunspot number and Class
3386 CRO
3387 BXO
3388 AXX
3391 AXX
3392 BXO
3393 ---
3394 BRO
3395 BRO
#: 7
Date: 8/11/2023
Time: 09:30 a.m. CDT
Seeing: good
Clouds: none
Wind: light
Camera: Dwarf II
Filter: Dwarf Lab ND filter
ISO/Gain: 0
Shutter Speed: 1/320 sec.
Video Length: 30 sec.
Frames: 918
Stacking: AutoStakkert
Post Processing: RegiStax 6
Observation:
Direct via imaging
Total Sunspot Count:
Groups (G): N: 2 + S: 0 = 2
Spots (S): N: 15 + S: 2 = 17
Wolf Sunspot Number (R):
R = 10G +S = 37
Sunspot number and Class
3399 AXX
3391 ---
3394 BRO
3395 BRI
3397 BRO
#: 8
Date: 8/16/2023
Time: 11:41 a.m. CDT
Seeing: fair
Clouds: light
Wind: light
Camera: Dwarf II
Filter: Dwarf Lab ND filter
ISO/Gain: 0
Shutter Speed: 1/320 sec.
Video Length: 30 sec.
Frames: 1806
Stacking: AutoStakkert
Post Processing: RegiStax 6
Observation:
Direct via imaging
Total Sunspot Count:
Groups (G): N: 4 + S: 3 = 7
Spots (S): N: 16 + S: 17 = 33
Wolf Sunspot Number (R):
R = 10G +S = 103
Sunspot number and Class
3397 DRO
3403 DSO
3404 AXX
3405 DSO
3406 BXX
3407 DSO
#: 9
Date: 8/18/2023
Time: 10:20 a.m. CDT
Seeing: fair
Clouds: light
Wind: none
Camera: Dwarf II
Filter: Dwarf Lab ND filter
ISO/Gain: 0
Shutter Speed: 1/320 sec.
Video Length: 30 sec.
Frames: 868
Stacking: AutoStakkert
Post Processing: RegiStax 6
Observation:
Direct via imaging
Total Sunspot Count:
Groups (G): N: 3 + S: 2 = 5
Spots (S): N: 15 + S: 4 = 19
Wolf Sunspot Number (R):
R = 10G +S = 69
Sunspot number and Class
3403 CRO
3404 AXX
3405 BXX
3407 BXX
3408 ---
3409 BXX
3410 AXX
3411 AXX
#: 10
Date: 8/23/2023
Time: 11:09 a.m. CDT
Seeing: good
Clouds: light
Wind: none
Camera: Dwarf II
Filter: Dwarf Lab ND filter
ISO/Gain: 0
Shutter Speed: 1/320 sec.
Video Length: 30 sec.
Frames: 928
Stacking: AutoStakkert
Post Processing: RegiStax 6
Observation:
Direct via imaging
Total Sunspot Count:
Groups (G): N: 2 + S: 1 = 3
Spots (S): N: 9 + S: 2 = 11
Wolf Sunspot Number (R):
R = 10G +S = 41
Sunspot number and Class
3404 ---
3405 CRO
3407 ---
3411 AXX
3412 CRO
3413 CHI
3414 ---
3415 CAO
#: 11
Date: 8/28/2023
Time: 10:16 a.m. CDT
Seeing: fair
Clouds: light
Wind: none
Camera: Canon T7i
Filter: Lunt Herschel wedge
ISO/Gain: 100
Shutter Speed: 1/4000 sec.
Video Length: 36 sec.
Frames: 2160
Stacking: AutoStakkert
Post Processing: RegiStax 6
Observation:
Direct via imaging
Total Sunspot Count:
Groups (G): N: 1 + S: 1 = 2
Spots (S): N: 9 + S: 6 = 15
Wolf Sunspot Number (R):
R = 10G +S = 35
Sunspot number and Class
3412 AXX
3413 CSI
3415 CSI
3416 AXX
#: 12
Date: 8/31/2023
Time: 11:57 a.m. CDT
Seeing: good
Clouds: none
Wind: light
Camera: Canon T7i
Filter: Lunt Herschel wedge
ISO/Gain: 100
Shutter Speed: 1/4000 sec.
Video Length: 32 sec.
Frames: 1956
Stacking: AutoStakkert
Post Processing: RegiStax 6
Observation:
Direct via imaging
Total Sunspot Count:
Groups (G): N: 1 + S: 2 = 3
Spots (S): N: 7 + S: 6 = 13
Wolf Sunspot Number (R):
R = 10G +S = 43
Sunspot number and Class
3412 ---
3413 CSO
3415 CSI
3416 AXX
3417 BXO
3418 AXX
#: 13
Date: 9/2/2023
Time: 10:50 a.m. CDT
Seeing: good
Clouds: light
Wind: light
Camera: Canon T7i
Filter: Lunt Herschel wedge
ISO/Gain: 100
Shutter Speed: 1/4000 sec.
Video Length: 32 sec.
Frames: 1966
Stacking: AutoStakkert
Post Processing: RegiStax 6
Observation:
Direct via imaging
Total Sunspot Count:
Groups (G): N: 0 + S: 2 = 2
Spots (S): N: 2 + S: 6 = 8
Wolf Sunspot Number (R):
R = 10G +S = 28
Sunspot number and Class
3413 ---
3415 CSO
3416 ---
3417 BXO
3418 AXX
#: 14
Date: 9/4/2023
Time: 09:58 a.m. CDT
Seeing: fair
Clouds: moderate
Wind: none
Camera: Canon T7i
Filter: Lunt Herschel wedge
ISO/Gain: 100
Shutter Speed: 1/2500 sec.
Video Length: 32 sec.
Frames: 1922
Stacking: AutoStakkert
Post Processing: RegiStax 6
Observation:
Direct via imaging
Total Sunspot Count:
Groups (G): N: 2 + S: 1 = 3
Spots (S): N: 15 + S: 6 = 21
Wolf Sunspot Number (R):
R = 10G +S = 51
Sunspot number and Class
3417 BRO
3418 AXX
3419 ---
3420 BRO
3421 CRO
LEFT UPPER AXX
LEFT CENTER BRO
BELOW CENTER BRO
#: 15
Date: 9/7/2023
Time: 09:57 a.m. CDT
Seeing: good
Clouds: none
Wind: none
Camera: Canon T7i
Filter: Lunt Herschel wedge
ISO/Gain: 100
Shutter Speed: 1/4000 sec.
Video Length: 32 sec.
Frames: 1936
Stacking: AutoStakkert
Post Processing: RegiStax 6
Observation:
Direct via imaging
Total Sunspot Count:
Groups (G): N: 5 + S: 0 = 5
Spots (S): N: 27 + S: 1 = 28
Wolf Sunspot Number (R):
R = 10G +S = 78
Sunspot number and Class
3417 AXX
3418 BXX
3420 ---
3421 CAI
3422 AXX
3423 EHI
3424 BXX
3425 BXX
#: 16
Date: 9/9/2023
Time: 11:35 a.m. CDT
Seeing: good
Clouds: patchy 33%
Wind: slight
Camera: Canon T7i
Filter: Lunt Herschel wedge
ISO/Gain: 100
Shutter Speed: 1/3200 sec.
Video Length: 32 sec.
Frames: 1960
Stacking: AutoStakkert
Post Processing: RegiStax 6
Observation:
Direct via imaging
Total Sunspot Count:
Groups (G): N: 4 + S: 0 = 4
Spots (S): N: 40 + S: 1 = 41
Wolf Sunspot Number (R):
R = 10G +S = 81
Sunspot number and Class
3418 BXO
3421 BXO
3423 EAI
3424 ---
3425 DAI
bottom left AXX
Date: 9/12/2023
Time: 11:52 a.m. CDT
Seeing: fair
Clouds: patchy .25
Wind: none
Camera: Canon T7i
Filter: Lunt Herschel wedge
ISO/Gain: 100
Shutter Speed: 1/3200 sec.
Video Length: 32 sec.
Frames: 1918
Stacking: AutoStakkert
Post Processing: RegiStax 6
Observation:
Direct via imaging
Total Sunspot Count:
Groups (G): N: 3 + S: 2 = 5
Spots (S): N: 26 + S: 11 = 37
Wolf Sunspot Number (R):
R = 10G +S = 87
Sunspot number and Class
3423 EAI
3425 DAI
3427 BXX
3428 ---
3429 CRO
3430 BXX
3431 CRO
3432 ---
TOP LEFT AXX
#: 18
Date: 9/14/2023
Time: 11:03 a.m. CDT
Seeing: good
Clouds: none
Wind: none
Camera: Canon T7i
Filter: Lunt Herschel wedge
ISO/Gain: 100
Shutter Speed: 1/3200 sec.
Video Length: 32 sec.
Frames: 1920
Stacking: AutoStakkert
Post Processing: RegiStax 6
Observation:
Direct via imaging
Total Sunspot Count:
Groups (G): N: 3 + S: 3 = 6
Spots (S): N: 21 + S: 14 = 35
Wolf Sunspot Number (R):
R = 10G +S = 95
Sunspot number and Class
3423 EAI
3425 DAO
3427 CSO
3429 CSI
3430 CSO
3431 CSO
3433 AXX
#: 19
Date: 9/17/2023
Time: 01:20 p.m. CDT
Seeing: poor
Clouds: high thin
Wind: none
Camera: Canon T7i
Filter: Lunt Herschel wedge
ISO/Gain: 100
Shutter Speed: 1/3200 sec.
Video Length: 32 sec.
Frames: 1918
Stacking: AutoStakkert
Post Processing: RegiStax 6
Observation:
Direct via imaging
Total Sunspot Count:
Groups (G): N: 6 + S: 0 = 6
Spots (S): N: 13 + S: 0 = 13
Wolf Sunspot Number (R):
R = 10G +S = 73
Sunspot number and Class
3425 CSO
3429 CAO
3430 AXX
3433 CAO
3434 BXX
3435 CAO
above center CAO
#: 20
Date: 9/21/2023
Time: 10:58 p.m. CDT
Seeing: fair
Clouds: through high light clouds*
Wind: none
Camera: Canon T7i
Filter: Lunt Herschel wedge
ISO/Gain: 100
Shutter Speed: 1/4000 sec.
Video Length: 32 sec.
Frames: 2010
Stacking: AutoStakkert
Post Processing: RegiStax 6
Observation:
Direct via imaging
Total Sunspot Count:
Groups (G): N: 5 + S: 2 = 7
Spots (S): N: 33 + S: 11 = 44
Wolf Sunspot Number (R):
R = 10G +S = 114
*Overexposed but the shortest possible with the camera.
Sunspot number and Class
3429 ---
3433 AXX
3435 CSO
3436 CSO
3437 DSO
3438 CSO
3439 CSO
3440 CSO
3441 BRO
3442 CSO
RIGHT ABOVE CENTER CRI
Five images of sunspot groups
Images were taken with a Celestron 80mm StarSense Explorer telescope (900mm FL), Celestron 2x Barlow, Lunt Herschel Wedge, and Canon T7i camera. The above setup gives a SkySafari calculated FOV of 42.6x28.2 arcminutes however all images below have been enlarged and cropped to an unknown FOV to better show the sunpots. The calculated resolution of the 1920x1080 original MP4s is about 1.2 arcseconds/pixel.
All images were taken from my driveway in Chesterfield, MO.
#: 1 Sunspot 3435
Date: 9/22/2023
Time: 11:29 a.m. CDT
Seeing: fair
Clouds: high white
Wind: none
Camera: Canon T7i
Filter: Lunt Herschel wedge
ISO/Gain: 100
Shutter Speed: 1/4000 sec.
Video Length: 30 sec.
Frames: 1924
Stacking: AutoStakkert 3.14
Post Processing:
RegiStax 6
Photoshop
Granulation? yes
Penumbral grain? no
Wilson effect? no
^^^ Processed to show facula ^^^
vvv Processed to show prenumbra vvv
Modified Zurich Class
DAC
Seeing in arcseconds: 3
#: 2 Sunspot 3443
Date: 9/23/2023
Time: 10:09 a.m CDT
Seeing: good
Clouds: none
Wind: light
Camera: Canon T7i
Filter: Lunt Herschel wedge
ISO/Gain: 100
Shutter Speed: 1/400 sec.
Video Length: 30 sec.
Frames: 1994
Stacking: AutoStakkert 3.14
Post Processing:
RegiStax 6
Photoshop
Granulation? yes
Penumbral grain? no
Wilson effect? no
Modified Zurich Class
EHC
Seeing in arcseconds: 3
#: 4 Sunspot 3448
Date: 9/26/2023
Time: 09:13 a.m. CDT
Seeing: good
Clouds: none
Wind: none
Camera: Canon T7i
Filter: Lunt Herschel wedge
ISO/Gain: 100
Shutter Speed: 1/500 sec.
Video Length: 30 sec.
Frames: 1904
Stacking: AutoStakkert
Post Processing: RegiStax
Photoshop
Granulation? yes
Penumbral grain? no
Wilson effect? yes
Modified Zurich Class
CSO
Seeing in arcseconds: 3
#: 4 Sunspot 3445
Date: 9/27/2023
Time: 10:01 a.m. CDT
Seeing: fair
Clouds: high white
Wind: light
Camera: Canon T7i
Filter: Lunt Herschel wedge
ISO/Gain: 100
Shutter Speed: 1/500 sec.
Video Length: 30 sec.
Frames: 1982
Stacking: AutoStakkert
Post Processing: RegiStax 6
Photoshop
Granulation? yes
Penumbral grain? no
Wilson effect? no
The black in the lower left is the edge of the rotated image not the edge of the Sun.
Modified Zurich Class
CSI
Seeing in arcseconds: 3
#: 5 Sunspot 3477
Date: 11/06/2023
Time: 10:01 a.m. CST
Seeing: fair
Clouds: high white
Wind: moderate
Camera: Canon T7i
Filter: Lunt Herschel wedge
ISO/Gain: 100
Shutter Speed: 1/500 sec.
Video Length: 34 sec.
Frames: 2090
Stacking: AutoStakkert
Post Processing: RegiStax 6
Photoshop
Granulation? no
Penumbral grain? no
Wilson effect? no
Modified Zurich Class
CKO
Seeing in arcseconds: 4+
Other Sunspot Groups
Sunspot 3490, 3491,3492
Date: 11/23/2023
Time: 10:28 a.m. CST
Seeing: fair
Clouds: none
Wind: light to moderate
Camera: Canon T7i
Filter: Lunt Herschel wedge
ISO/Gain: 100
Shutter Speed: 1/500 sec.
Video Length: 30 sec.
Frames: 1999
Stacking: AutoStakkert 3.14
Post Processing:
RegiStax 6
Photoshop
Granulation? yes
Penumbral grain? no
Wilson effect? no
The three large groups were close together (20 degrees?) so I opted to include them all.
Modified Zurich Class
3490 DAC
3491 HSX
3492 EKC
Seeing in arcseconds: 3
Sunspot 3445
Date: 9/24/2023
Time: 10:09 a.m CDT
Seeing: fair
Clouds: none
Wind: light
Camera: Canon T7i
Filter: Lunt Herschel wedge
ISO/Gain: 100
Shutter Speed: 1/500 sec.
Video Length: 30 sec.
Frames: 1990
Stacking: AutoStakkert 3.14
Post Processing:
RegiStax 6
Photoshop
Granulation? yes
Penumbral grain? no
Wilson effect? no
Not enough detail to label
Modified Zurich Class
CRI
Seeing in arcseconds: 4+
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