I am comparing my November 2022 data (I started my observations of the Sun from here) with those of the Solar Bulletin, to verify if the groups/sunspots I counted match those of the other observers. Should I refer to the Raw number which is the average of the other observers? Also because Ra is Shapley's fix, right?
My counts are too low (≤10) on days:
11/11/2022 UT 1230 (G=3 dots=22 F=52 RAW=65)
11/20/2022 UT 1320 (G=4 spots=20 F=60 RAW=75)
So I counted one group less, or many sunspots less…
From the Spaceweather link on November 11 there are 3 groups with spots (3140, 3141, 3145), but from the Hanzelhohe Observatory site it counts 4, because they divide the AR3140 group into two groups, despite with Helio Viewer the separations are ~4° longitude and ~7° latitude.
Do you think the deficit is in the groups or in the number of sunspots?
https://www.spaceweather.com/images2022/11nov22/hmi1898.gif
Hi Maurizo,
There is no right or wrong observation for group and sunspot counts on any particular day. Each observer has a different 'style' and type telescope (instrument) and seeing conditions. For example here are data from observers observations on the 11th of November 2022:
JD, year, Mon, day,obs,see,g,s,Wolf (RAW)
2459895, 2022,/,Nov,/,11,ARAG,F,4,39,79
2459895, 2022,/,Nov,/,11,ASA,G,3,21,51
2459895, 2022,/,Nov,/,11,BATR,G,3,28,58
2459895, 2022,/,Nov,/,11,BMF,G,3,24,54
2459895, 2022,/,Nov,/,11,BMIG,G,3,24,54
2459895, 2022,/,Nov,/,11,BZX,F,3,13,43
2459895, 2022,/,Nov,/,11,CIOA,P,3,19,49
2459895, 2022,/,Nov,/,11,CKB,E,3,35,65
2459895, 2022,/,Nov,/,11,CMAB,F,3,22,52
2459895, 2022,/,Nov,/,11,DMIB,P,4,18,58
2459895, 2022,/,Nov,/,11,DUBF,F,3,32,62
2459895, 2022,/,Nov,/,11,EGMA,G,3,27,57
2459895, 2022,/,Nov,/,11,FERA,E,3,18,48
2459895, 2022,/,Nov,/,11,GIGA,F,2,19,39
2459895, 2022,/,Nov,/,11,HKY,E,4,21,61
2459895, 2022,/,Nov,/,11,HOWR,E,2,28,48
2459895, 2022,/,Nov,/,11,ILUB,P,3,29,59
2459895, 2022,/,Nov,/,11,KAMB,G,2,10,30
2459895, 2022,/,Nov,/,11,KAND,F,3,21,51
2459895, 2022,/,Nov,/,11,KNJS,G,4,32,72
2459895, 2022,/,Nov,/,11,LEVM,P,2,17,37
2459895, 2022,/,Nov,/,11,MARC,E,3,22,52
2459895, 2022,/,Nov,/,11,MCE,F,3,24,54
2459895, 2022,/,Nov,/,11,MJAF,G,3,39,69
2459895, 2022,/,Nov,/,11,MJHA,G,2,12,32
2459895, 2022,/,Nov,/,11,MMAY,E,3,17,47
2459895, 2022,/,Nov,/,11,MMI,G,12,69,189
2459895, 2022,/,Nov,/,11,OAAA,G,3,57,87
2459895, 2022,/,Nov,/,11,PLUD,E,4,30,70
2459895, 2022,/,Nov,/,11,RJV,F,4,40,80
2459895, 2022,/,Nov,/,11,SDOH,E,4,44,84
2459895, 2022,/,Nov,/,11,TDE,E,3,34,64
2459895, 2022,/,Nov,/,11,WWM,F,3,37,67
Perhaps compare your data with these data for that day. This may help to understand the differences. All observers after 100 observations get a k - factor, which is a weighted value that will help calculate the Ra index for future observations. So, after you have accumulated 100 observations with your telescope and feel confident in your observations the differences will not seem so different !
Rodney
finally records…
thank you
finally records listing raw number of sunspots, as observed and counted
Since AR (acitivity regions) get computer identified from magnetograms
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FmiqfWUaUAEDYHJ?format=png&name=small
labels are assigned to individual AR.
Number of ARs is greater than the number of groups of sunspots (vide the image above),
so number of ARs sets general, upper limit for the number of groups.
2459895, 2022,/,Nov,/,11,MMI,G,12,69,189
the above record identified 12 groups on Nov. 11, 2022
spaceweather.com (Credit: SDO/HMI) identified and labeled 5 acitivity regions
====
Daily Sun: 11 Nov 22
Expand: labels | no labels
Sunspot AR3141 has a 'beta-gamma-delta' magnetic field that harbors energy for X-class solar flares. Credit: SDO/HMI
---
---
so why not to ask the concerned observer personally about his count of groups set to: 12
For the recognition and division of the groups I help myself with the Helio Viever software, the Zurich/McIntosh classification and by monitoring the birth and evolution of the group of spots.
Thanks for your answers!