Editing Sunspot (section)

== Modern observation ==
{{Main|Solar observatory}}
[[File:Swedish Solar Telescope.jpg|right|thumb|upright|The [[Swedish Solar Telescope|Swedish 1-m Solar Telescope]] at [[Roque de los Muchachos Observatory]] on [[La Palma]] in the [[Canary Islands]]|alt=Photo of six-story building with fenced balcony containing large telescope]]

Sunspots are observed with land-based and Earth-orbiting [[solar telescope]]s. These telescopes use filtration and projection techniques for direct observation, in addition to various types of filtered cameras. Specialized tools such as [[spectroscope]]s and [[spectrohelioscope]]s are used to examine sunspots and sunspot areas. Artificial eclipses allow viewing of the circumference of the Sun as sunspots rotate through the horizon.

Since looking directly at the Sun with the [[naked eye]] permanently damages [[human vision]], amateur observation of sunspots is generally conducted using projected images, or directly through protective [[astronomical filter|filters]]. Small sections of very dark [[optical filter|filter glass]], such as a #14 welder's glass, are effective. A telescope [[eyepiece]] can project the image, without filtration, onto a white screen where it can be viewed indirectly, and even traced, to follow sunspot evolution. Special purpose [[H-alpha#Filter|hydrogen-alpha]] narrow bandpass filters and [[vacuum deposition|aluminum-coated]] glass [[attenuation]] filters (which have the appearance of mirrors due to their extremely high [[optical density]]) on the front of a telescope provide safe observation through the eyepiece.