Sunspots at the end of the solar eclipse. Click for a larger version.
One of the treats of the Great American Eclipse was the abundance of sunspots. They slowly disappeared as the moon moved in front of the sun, and reappeared as the moon continued on its journey.
One of my favorite moments (and images) before totality was the moon moving across the last sunspots on the sun’s Eastern limb. The image above is one of my favorite images from the end of the eclipse. Just a bit of the sun is hidden behind the moon, and the sunspots are in full, glorious array.
Sunspots rotate from East to West (left to right) day by day. They also appear and disappear as they get stronger and weaker in intensity. You can go for days and see no sunspots at all. It is all part of the grand solar weather patterns.
If you have a solar filter that you bought to photograph the eclipse, the fun isn’t over. The sun and its ever changing spots are up there waiting for you!
If you don’t have a solar filter and you want to get in on all of the fun, go here. Be sure to read the “how to” articles below so you don’t blind yourself while you are learning how to photograph the sun.
The Great American Eclipse Series
The Great American Eclipse Series  – All of my eclipse articles are listed at this link. This is the 42nd article in the series.
Eclipse Photography
How To Photograph the Sun (and an Eclipse) with Lee and Other High Density Solar Filters
How to Process a “Blue Sun†Photographed with a Lee Solar Filter
How to Photograph the Sun (and an Eclipse) with a “White Light†Solar Filter
Practice Your Solar Eclipse Photography Skills Now!
Photographing the Eclipse: How Big Do You Like Your Sun?
HDR Photography During Eclipse Totality
How to Choose the Right Lens for Eclipse Time Lapse Photography
Eclipse Imagery
Timed Sequence, The Great American Eclipse, August 21, 2017
The Sun’s Corona During Eclipse Totality
Solar Flares During the Total Eclipse
Solar Filters
White light solar filters (the best of the best) from Thousand Oaks Optical