SHORT vs LONG TIME SERIES : EXAMPLE OF THE SOLAR DIAMETER

The significance of a time series obviously changes with its length and accuracy; data about the Sun are no exception. In this short paper, we compare the 23-year long series of visual observations of the solar semi-diameter at Calern Observatory with the activity cycle to find an apparent opposing phase. The comparison of the sub-series of the same, carried out during 26-month long measurements of SOHO/MDI (April 1996, June 1998), reveals an apparent phase with the same activity cycle, in line with most of the recent results. Consequently, the importance of long and coherent ground measurements of the solar diameter has to be stressed.     

Analysis of Diameter Measurements Performed at Calern Observatory Astrolabe

Solar diameter measurements performed at Calern Observatory astrolabe during more than two solar cycles show variations at various time scales in a broad range. Due to seasonal effects and instrumental characteristics, the recorded data are not sampled uniformly and present some gaps during these years. This time series has been analyzed by means of a deconvolution of the window function, as an alternative method to the standard least square fits of harmonic functions. The results show an extremely important improvement of the power spectrum. Harmonic terms already found by other authors are confirmed but new frequencies are also revealed by this analysis.     

Solar diameter measurements with Calern Observatory astrolabe and atmospheric turbulence effects

In order to deduce significant astrophysical results from solar diameter measurements it is necessary to take an accurate account of instrumental and atmospheric effects. This paper presents a comparison between visual and CCD camera measurements performed by means of the Calern Observatory solar astrolabe during the last 4 years; this allows us to evaluate visual measurements done previously (from 1975 to 1989). Then, a study of atmospheric effects is developed. From CCD measurements, the image quality, expressed by Fried's seeing parameter,r ₀, is estimated and related to the errors occurring in solar diameter measurements. A statistical analysis gives about 0.26 arc sec (or 0.13 arc sec for the semi-diameter) as the lowest value that this error may reach at Calern Observatory. One conclusion of this work is that it is important in the future to have image quality observations, obtained using a dedicated monitor, in order to evaluate and classify the measurements. A survey of the seeing might so lead to improve the precision of the results by weighting each diameter estimation and eventually to schedule the observations.     

Feature extraction from solar images using wavelet transform: image cleaning for applications to solar astrolabe experiment

Good edge extraction from temporal series of solar images is fundamental in the solar astrolabe experiment. Noise and spots in images cause however, difficulties to extract an accurate solar edge. We present in this paper a new image-processing method which solves this problem and thus improves the characteristics of the solar astrolabe experiment. The method is based upon the use of wavelet transform in the solar image analysis. It is developed to remove image defects (parasite spots) and noise without reducing image resolution. Solar images obtained at Calern Observatory astrolabe (France) are then processed using this method. Solar edges of these images are extracted and trajectories reconstructed.     

Measurements and variations of the solar diameter

As a consequence of an astrometry program, conducted since 1975 on a solar astrolabe at the Calern Observatory (Observatoire de la Côte d'Azur), we have obtained a data set of apparent solar diameters which encompasses periods greater than one solar cycle. From a set of more than 5000 visual observations, made by the same observer between 1975 and 1994, the mean value of the semidiameter was measured at 959.42 ± 0.01. Also, a set of CCD measurements made with the same instrument between 1989 and 1994 yields the mean value 959.40 ± 0.01. Both results obtained by raw measurements are consistent but significantly differ from values obtained by other methods and on other instruments. We discuss some systematic effects that can affect our visual measurements and their precision. Taking account of a zenith distance effect provides for the semi-diameter a mean value closer to the value of the ephemeris. Our observations also reveal deviations around the mean diameter in the royal zones and for high heliographic latitudes; their amplitudes reaching as much as 0.08. Finally, semi-diameter variations appear in our series; their origin is unknown but they may possibly be related to observed variations of magnetic activity or other solar parameters.