Lomography

Artist from the Isles of Scilly Jonathan Polkest

Apparent references to SUNSPOTS were made by Chinese Astronomers in 28BC (Hanshu 27) who probably could see the largest spot groups when the suns glare was filtered by wind borne dust from the various central Asian deserts. A large sunspot was also seen in the time of CHARLEMANGE'S DEATH in 813 ad and futher Sunspot activity in 1129 was described by JOHN OF WORCESTER. However these observations were misinterpreted until Galileo gave the more commonly accepted explanation in 1612. They were first observed telescopically in late 1610 by the English astronomer Thomas Harriot and Frisian astronomer JOHANNES and DAVID FABRICIUS, who published a description in June 1611. At the latter time GALILEO had been showing sunspots to astronomers in Rome and Christoph Schiener had probably been obsereving the spots for two or three months, with a name like schiener how could he have not?, The ensuing priority dispute between GALILEO and Schiener niether of whome knew of the FABRICIUS' work, was thus as pointless as it was bitter.