Sunspots on August 26 2023

[John Baars]

Sunspots on 26 August 2023
Sketch.
At the low magnification, the size of the large spot is slightly exaggerated, I see afterwards. The separate sketch of the large spot is more lifelike.

The Wolf number here is multi-interpretable. It depends on whether you count the spots on the left of the image separately or as one group. If I were to count as I did years ago I come up with 6 groups. (which is already 60) and 11 individual spots, together 71.
At higher magnification of, say, just the large group, you end up higher. Hence the point is to always count with the same instrument and the same magnification.
Granulation was more or less just around the corner. Earlier at 10.00, I did see it briefly, but a lot of cloud cover and so I had to postpone the sketch. The sketch was done at noon, it was clearly warmer then, more turbulence and granulation not visible any more.

[messier 111]

nice work , thx .

[Solsearcher]

Nice sketch John and great description on how the clouds effect the viewing .

[helicon]

Great report John. Certainly VROD worthy so congrats on winning the VROD for 8-26-2023!

[Bigzmey]

Nice sketch John and congrats on the VROD!

[John Baars]

Thank you for your compliments and the VROD!

[John Baars]

This is how I counted the Wolf number.

Every group gets ten points. Every individual spot gets one point.
A single spot counts as a group as well. So one single spot gets 10 + 1 = 11 points. ( for instance in the sketch the group numbers 2,3,6)
Two small single spots close together count as one group, as you may assume there is a positive and a negative pole. This is where the "subjective interpretation factor" comes in. ( in the sketch group number 1)
There is no difference in counting between a big dark spot with a penumbra and a tiny black speck, als long as they are both single.

[Graeme1858]

That's interesting stuff John.

Graeme

[mariosi]

John,
Wonderful presentation of Sunspots on August, 26/2023.

Thanks for sharing