Solar Summary
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This uses daytime cloud, wind, solar altitude, upper-level wind and available seeing data from the selected observing location.
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BADAS OBSERVING RESOURCE
Solar Observing Planner
Near-live solar images from professional and space-based telescopes, up-to-date sunspot information, and of course the daytime weather conditions you need for planning your white-light, hydrogen-alpha or Calcium-K solar observing and imaging.
SOLAR SAFETY FIRST
Never look at the Sun through binoculars, a telescope, finder scope, camera lens, viewfinder or any optical aid unless a proper front-mounted solar filter is securely fitted. Keep finder scopes capped or removed, and never use eyepiece solar filters, sunglasses, smoked glass or improvised materials.
Unsafe solar viewing can cause instant, permanent eye damage or blindness.
Location / Time Zone
Blackpool Cricket Club / Europe/London
Current Sunspots
For the most authoritative numbered active-region report, use the NOAA/SWPC Solar Region Summary. NASA/SDO imagery is excellent for visually checking the current disk, while SpaceWeatherLive gives a readable public summary of active regions and flare probabilities.
- NOAA region numbers identify the active regions currently visible on the Earth-facing disk.
- Magnetic class helps flag complex groups likely to show more detail or flare potential.
- Sunspot number is best treated as overall solar-cycle context, not a guide to one specific telescope session.
Rotating Into View
Solar rotation brings new material onto the disk from the east limb. Far-side and synoptic maps are useful early-warning tools, but treat them as “watch this space” hints rather than firm sunspot forecasts.
- East-limb plage in H-alpha, 304 Å or Calcium-K can appear before obvious white-light spots.
- Returning regions may reappear after about two weeks, although they can decay while out of view.
- Limb prominences can still be excellent H-alpha targets even when the disk looks quiet.
Near-live Solar Images
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NSO/GONG H-alpha
Prominences, filaments, plage and chromospheric detail.
NSO/GONG 677 nm
White-light style view for sunspots and photospheric detail.
NSO/GONG Magnetogram
Magnetic polarity and active-region structure.
NSO/GONG Synoptic Flux
Full-rotation magnetic context and approaching active longitudes.
SDO AIA 304 Å
Prominences, filaments and active chromospheric regions.
SDO AIA 193 Å
Coronal holes, active regions and large-scale coronal structure.
Meudon Calcium-K
Calcium-K highlights plages, magnetic activity and the chromospheric network.
SOHO LASCO C2
Inner coronagraph view for CMEs and bright sungrazing comets.
Daytime Weather for Solar Observing
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Seeing / Jet Stream
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- 7Timer seeingLoading…
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- Best timeLoading…
The 250 hPa wind is used as a practical jet-stream proxy. 7Timer seeing is a model guide, not a guarantee of local daytime steadiness.
Safe Solar Observing Guide
White-light
Use a certified front-mounted solar filter or a purpose-made solar telescope. White-light observing is ideal for sunspots, photospheric faculae, eclipse work and general public observing.
For imaging, short video captures can show umbral and penumbral detail when the seeing steadies. Granulation needs sharper seeing, good focus and a reasonably high solar altitude.
Hydrogen-alpha
Use a dedicated H-alpha solar telescope or a correctly matched energy rejection and etalon system. H-alpha reveals prominences, filaments, plages, spicules and flares.
Even on a hazy day, H-alpha can sometimes give pleasing visual views, but high-resolution imaging of prominences or active regions still depends heavily on steady local seeing.
Calcium-K
Calcium-K is mainly an imaging wavelength, showing bright plages and chromospheric network associated with magnetic activity. It is less commonly used visually and usually needs specialist equipment.
Because Calcium-K works in the near ultraviolet, it benefits from excellent transparency, careful focusing and a camera sensitive at short wavelengths. Haze, low Sun and poor seeing can soften the result quickly.
Before every session
Inspect filters, caps, finders and fittings before aiming at the Sun. Supervise public observing closely and remove or securely cover ordinary finder scopes.
Check that filters cannot be knocked loose by wind or visitors, and never leave a solar-pointed telescope unattended.
What the forecast means
Clear sky is only part of the story. Low cloud and rain stop play, high cloud reduces contrast, wind affects telescope stability, and a strong jet stream often makes fine solar detail boil or blur.
For public sessions, visual white-light or H-alpha is often worthwhile in fair conditions. For high-resolution imaging, wait for the best cloud gap, highest solar altitude and lowest seeing/jet-stream indicators.