Abstract
RECENT SUNSPOTS.—The stream of spots seen near the sun's central meridian on Dec. 15 and 16 is the most important group observed for the last two months. Except for occasional short intervals, there has been no dearth, however, of smaller spots, whilst faculae have been abundant (see also NATURE, Oct. 23, p. 603). The spots recently under observation appear to have originated about Nov. 21, but cloudy weather prevented their development being followed at that time, and later when the group was due to return at the east limb on Dec. 9. When first seen on Dec. 15, the arrangement of the spots was that usually associated with a bipolar group or stream of normal type. With the exception of the leader, the component spots were much broken up. The length of the stream, which was parallel to the sun's equator, was about 12° of solar longitude. Although the aggregate area of the spots was fully 1000 millionth s of the sun's hemisphere, the group could be seen on Dec. 15 and 16 only when the disc was very carefully screened. Particulars of position, etc., are given below. It may be noted that no group so large as this has hitherto appeared during the present cycle so close to the sun's equator.
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Our Astronomical Column. Nature 118, 925 (1926). https://doi.org/10.1038/118925a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/118925a0