Abstract
Recent Solar Activity.—A large, naked-eye sunspot of composite structure was a conspicuous object to those persons who watched the phases of the partial solar eclipse on Nov. 1. The spot crossed the sun s central meridian on Oct. 31.0, and there were disturbed magnetic conditions recorded at Abinger on Nov. 1-4. For some hours after 15h on Nov. 3 the magnetic disturbance reached ‘storm’ intensity, the range in declination being about 36′. It may be noted that disturbed magnetic conditions occurred on Oct. 7-10, that is, about a solar rotation earlier. Another group of sunspots possibly associated with the recent magnetic storm was a stream which, growing rapidly from small spots on Oct. 30, covered an area of 900 millionths of the sun's hemisphere on Nov. 3. Mr. Newbegin at Worthing observed this group with a spectroscope on Nov. 3 and saw that it was unusually active. There were reversals of lines of sodium and magnesium and a brilliant reversal of the c-line of hydrogen over the centre of the group. A third spot to be noted came into view round the east limb on Nov. 3 and was accompanied by a metallic prominence. This spot will probably be visible to the naked eye and is the return of one designated No. 10 in the list of spots given on p. 631 of NATURE, Oct. 19. The following table continues the tabulation of large sunspots.
Article PDF
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Our Astronomical Column. Nature 124, 737 (1929). https://doi.org/10.1038/124737a0
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/124737a0