[AZ-Observing] 486 & 488

Yesterday I saw what I believe is 486 (the last periods designation) 
just making its appearance around the limb. Today more of the group is 
visible and it does not appear overly large to me. I did not observe it 
when it first appeared and so I have no idea if it has reduced in size. 
I also see a lot of faculae around it that I do not recall seeing around 
488 when I observed 488 yesterday. Yesterday 488 was at about the same 
location relative to the limb of the sun that 486 is today.

On a related issue, during the last partial solar eclipse we had in 
Arizona I was observing it through my telescope to see the silhouette of 
the lunar mountains against the sun. I am using a Thousand Oaks filter 
in their aluminum ring. I have a full aperture filter rather than one 
that is off to one side. One thing that I noticed was that I started 
getting thermals from, I think, the aluminum ring that was affecting the 
image the longer I observed the sun. Has anyone experienced this? If so, 
what do you use to prevent it, white titanium dioxide paint over the 
aluminum ring?

Stan

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