How to observe the Sun

This previous Astronomy story is a primer on solar features.

By Michael E. Bakich

Published: March 29, 2010

Sunspots are visible in this image.

Photo by SOHO/MDI

In the story "Fun observing the Sun" in Astronomy's May 2010 issue, I wrote about telescopic viewing methods, sketching the Sun, solar eclipses, and even the green flash. My previous solar observing story appeared in our April 2008 issue. There, I explained the Sun's features visible through regular and Hydrogen-alpha filters.

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	Sun	Sun	Moon
RISE	—		—	PHASE	—
SET	—		—	DISK	—

	Mercury	Mercury	Venus	Venus
RISE	—		—
SET	—		—
		—		—

	Mars	Mars	Jupiter	Jupiter	Saturn	Saturn
RISE	—		—		—
SET	—		—		—
		—		—		—