Solar observing

BBC Sky at Night Magazine webinar. How to observe the Sun, with Pete Lawrence

Webinar How to observe and photograph the Sun

Are you a solar observing expert? Follow our advanced guide and contribute to citizen science. Credit: Pete Lawrence

Solar citizen science: advanced observing and imaging of the Sun

How to safely photograph the Sun. Credit: Pete Lawrence

Astrophotography guides

How to safely photograph the Sun

Creat a pinhole camera and track the path of the Sun across the sky

How to make a pinhole camera

How to polar align an equatorial mount safely using the Sun. Credit: Dave Eagle

How to polar align during the day

BBC Sky at Night Magazine's News Editor Ezzy Pearson prepares to observe the 2017 total solar eclipse in the US, armed with her Coronado PST Credit: Elizabeth Pearson

How can I do astronomy during the day?

Composite image of Mercury transiting across the sun on 9 May, 2016, as seen by HMI on NASA's Solar Dynamics Obersvatory. Credit: NASA/SDO

Transit of Mercury 2019 Livestream

A focal length of 1,000mm (or above) is needed to define Mercury against the Sun’s disc. Credit: Pete Lawrence

Astrophotography guides

How to photograph the transit of Mercury

Mercury passing in front of the Sun captured in 2006 by the Solar Optical Telescope. Credit: Hinode JAXA/NASA/PPARC

Transit of Mercury, 11 November 2019: what it is and how to see it

Gary’s final processed image shows rich detail on the dynamic surface of our star. Credit: Gary Palmer

Astrophotography guides

Image processing How to colourise astrophotos of the Sun

Monitoring solar events at the Met Office Space Weather Operations Centre. Credit: The Met Office

Space weather and the Met Office: predicting solar phenomena

DayStar Quark Magnesium I b2 solar filter

DayStar Quark Magnesium I b2 solar filter review

£1199 Price correct at time of review

Daystar Solar Scout SS60-ds H-alpha telescope

Daystar Solar Scout SS60-ds H-alpha telescope bundle

£899 Price correct at time of review

SolarMax II 90 solar telescope

Solar sleuths

Solar observing can be very rewarding, providing it's done safely.

The benefits of solar observing