What Can We See on the Sun?

Abstract

Before we discuss what can be seen on the Sun’s surface we need to know what are the best conditions for observing the Sun. Our atmosphere interferes with solar observing in two important respects. First, it produces clouds that obscure the Sun or allow us only a poor view of it. Secondly, there is the constant rippling and blurring of the solar image, which is caused by the fact that our atmosphere is in constant motion above our heads. Both these atmospheric factors are a nuisance to the amateur solar observer and are the main reason why professional astronomers site their solar observatories on the tops of high mountains or on spacecraft. However, with a little planning and thought about the causes of these problems the amateur can get around them to some extent some of the time.