Number of sunspots and number of groups reconstructed from a combination of Philippe de La Hire's measurements and his sunspot drawings defined by Zolotova and Vokhmyanin (in Solar Physics, 2026, in press). Sometimes we use observations and engraving published in Memoires. These observations could have been made not only by La Hire. N umbra framed by a common penumbra are counted as N sunspots. SpN depends strongly on the quality of the drawing, which is not consistent. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Data format: ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Place - Location of the observer; YYYY - Year; MM - Month; DD - Day; HH - UT Hour; MI - Minute; GN - Number of sunspot groups; SpN - Number of sunspots. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX Place YYYY MM DD HH MI GN SpN Comment ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Paris Obs. 1703 5 25 11 51 1 4 Paris Obs. 1703 5 26 11 50 1 4 Paris Obs. 1703 5 27 8 51 1 6 Paris Obs. 1703 5 28 7 51 1 5 Paris Obs. 1703 5 29 9 21 1 8 Paris Obs. 1703 5 30 7 36 1 17 Paris Obs. 1703 5 31 10 51 1 3! In Memoires, La Hire (1703) noted that two clusters of small spots looked the same as the previous day; however, most of the tailing sunspots are missing from the engraving. Paris Obs. 1703 6 1 7 51 1 12 Paris Obs. 1703 6 2 15 6 1 NaN This is a sunspot measurement Paris Obs. 1703 6 3 5 51 1 1 Paris Obs. 1703 6 18 5 36 1 1 Paris Obs. 1703 6 19 7 21 1 1 Paris Obs. 1703 6 20 7 51 1 1! Also, La_Hire (1703) noted a trailing sunspot: "il me paroissoit a cote vers le bord du Soleil une petite Tache sans etre terminee". So, there could have been more sunspots Paris Obs. 1703 6 21 11 51 1 1 Paris Obs. 1703 6 22 15 21 1 2 Paris Obs. 1703 6 23 9 36 1 2 Paris Obs. 1703 6 24 11 21 1 2 Paris Obs. 1703 6 25 11 51 1 2 Paris Obs. 1703 6 26 8 51 1 2 Paris Obs. 1703 6 27 11 51 1 NaN This is a sunspot measurement Paris Obs. 1703 6 30 5 51 1 NaN This is a sunspot measurement Paris Obs. 1703 7 8 11 51 1 9 Paris Obs. 1703 7 9 6 21 1 15 Paris Obs. 1703 7 10 13 36 1 17 Paris Obs. 1703 7 11 6 21 1 34 Paris Obs. 1703 7 12 7 9 1 22 Paris Obs. 1703 7 13 7 21 1 13 Paris Obs. 1703 7 14 9 36 1 9 Paris Obs. 1703 7 15 6 6 1 5 Paris Obs. 1703 7 16 11 36 1 6 Bologna 1703 12 21 NaN NaN 1 3 This observation was taken by Manfredi. According to Maraldi, Manfredi saw three sunspots near the western limb. Paris Obs. 1704 1 7 11 51 2 15 There could have been more spots. Group 25 may have had more sunspots. See La Hire's description from January 16. Paris Obs. 1704 1 8 11 51 2 NaN Paris Obs. 1704 1 10 11 51 1 2 This is a schematic drawing. Group 25 may have had more spots. See La Hire's description from January 16. Paris Obs. 1704 1 11 11 51 1 3 There could have been more spots. Group 25 may have had more spots. See La Hire's description from January 16. Paris Obs. 1704 1 16 11 36 1 3 The day is not given, but La Hire (1704, in Memoires) describes the sunspot group as follows: I will not here describe the different forms which this sunspot took, because it was small; and it consisted only of two or three spots joined together and enveloped in the same cloud [penumbra] as usual, with several other small spots nearby. It seems to me that no benefit can be derived from this kind of constantly changing forms. Maraldi noted two sunspot. He added that in the previous days there were three sunspots Paris Obs. 1704 1 17 11 48 1 1 There could have been more spots. Group 25 may have had more spots. See La Hire's description from January 16. Paris Obs. 1704 1 18 10 51 1 6! (!) La Hire noted the sunspot group (Tache) was consisted of two or three sunspots (Taches) joined together and enveloped with a penumbra, with a few other small spots nearby Acad Montp. 1704 1 25 NaN NaN 1 NaN This observation was taken by M. de Plantade Conseiller in Academy De Montpellier. Maraldi also noted that this sunspot was observed by Manfredi Paris Obs. 1704 1 26 8 21 1 NaN Maraldi (1704): "On 26 January at 8:30, when the Sun appeared through the clouds for a few minutes, we observed with a 3-foot telescope a fairly large Spot near the eastern edge, but we had no time to determine its location or to see it with larger telescopes because of the clouds." Paris Obs. 1704 1 27 14 21 1 2 Maraldi reported two joined sunspots enveloped in penumbra Paris Obs. 1704 1 28 11 51 1 2 In La Hire's journal, this is a schematic drawing. Manfredi noticed that the umbra separated, but were still enveloped in penumbra Paris Obs. 1704 1 29 11 51 1 7 Manfredi noticed the umbra separated into three almost equal parts, but were still enveloped in penumbra Paris Obs. 1704 1 31 NaN NaN 1 3 Manfredi noted: These umbrae had moved considerably further apart from each other, but were still enveloped in the same penumbra. Paris Obs. 1704 2 1 NaN NaN 2 4 Manfredi noticed the three umbrae were even further apart, and each had its own penumbra. The western spot was significantly larger than the others; it was surrounded by a larger penumbra, and this sunspot persisted to the end. The other two spots, having diminished, dissipated. Paris Obs. 1704 2 2 11 51 1 9 Paris Obs. 1704 2 3 11 51 1 1 This is a schematic drawing Paris Obs. 1704 2 4 11 51 2 10 Paris Obs. 1704 2 5 11 51 2 NaN This is a schematic drawing Paris Obs. 1704 2 10 11 51 1 10 Paris Obs. 1704 3 19 7 51 1 2 Maraldi noted two separated umbra enveloped in penumbra Paris Obs. 1704 3 20 9 51 1 2 Maraldi noted still two umbra enveloped in penumbra Paris Obs. 1704 3 21 11 51 1 3 Maraldi noted: The shape of the sunspot was almost the same as in previous days, except that a small area adjacent to the penumbra was visible. We interpret this as three umbrae. La Hire scematically drew a single sunspot on the solar disk Paris Obs. 1704 3 24 11 51 1 NaN Maraldi noted the sunspot diminished Paris Obs. 1704 4 22 11 51 1 2 This is a schematic drawing by La Hire Paris Obs. 1704 4 23 11 51 1 2 This is a schematic drawing Paris Obs. 1704 4 24 11 51 1 1 La Hire noted that there was a sunspot, but it was so weak that it was not visible through a telescope equipped with a quadrant Paris Obs. 1704 7 5 11 51 1 1 This is a schematic drawing Paris Obs. 1704 7 30 11 51 1 2 This is a schematic drawing Paris Obs. 1704 7 31 11 51 1 3 This is a schematic drawing Paris Obs. 1704 8 1 11 51 1 1 La Hire noticed that the sunspot seemed to be single Paris Obs. 1704 11 25 11 53 1 NaN La Hire (1704, Memoires) described the sunspot as a small one Acad. Montp. 1705 1 12 NaN NaN 1 6 In Memoires (1705, pages 126 and 55): Plantade observed this sunspot group in Academy De Montpellier. There were 5 or 6 sunspots. Time is unknown. Maraldi also noted that this sunspot was observed by Manfredi Paris Obs. 1705 1 15 11 56 1! 8 (!) One can consider this active region as one or two sunspot groups. The drawing is schematic Paris Obs. 1705 1 16 13 36 1 NaN There is not sunspot drawing on this day Paris Obs. 1705 4 7 11 52 1 NaN Paris Obs. 1705 4 10 11 51 1 NaN Paris Obs. 1705 4 12 11 49 1 NaN Paris Obs. 1705 4 13 11 50 1 NaN Paris Obs. 1705 4 14 11 50 1 NaN Paris Obs. 1705 4 15 11 49 1 NaN Paris Obs. 1705 4 16 11 49 1 NaN Paris Obs. 1705 4 17 11 48 1 NaN Paris Obs. 1705 5 17 11 51 1 NaN In Memoires (1705, page 126): the size of this sunspot is similar to that in April. The next day it disappeared Paris Obs. 1705 7 4 11 51 1 NaN In Memoires (1705, page 126): the sunspot was small Paris Obs. 1705 7 5 11 51 1 6 The drawing is schematic. In Memoires (1705, page 126): the spot looked larger and consisted of several others Paris Obs. 1705 7 6 11 51 1 NaN This is a sunspot measurement by La Hire Paris Obs. 1705 7 7 11 51 1 7 The drawing is schematic Paris Obs. 1705 7 8 11 51 1 4 The drawing is schematic Paris Obs. 1705 7 9 12 0 1 NaN This is a sunspot measurement by La Hire Paris Obs. 1705 7 11 11 51 1 NaN This is a sunspot measurement by La Hire. In Memoires (1705, page 126): the spot disappeared on 13 July Paris Obs. 1705 8 3 11 51 1 2 The drawing is schematic. In Memoires (1705, page 126): The next day sunspot disappeared Paris Obs. 1705 10 4 11 51 1 2 The drawing is schematic Paris Obs. 1705 10 5 11 51 1 5 The drawing is schematic Paris Obs. 1705 10 8 11 50 1 8 The drawing is schematic Paris Obs. 1705 10 9 11 48 1 13 The drawing is schematic Paris Obs. 1705 10 10 11 48 1 NaN This is a sunspot measurement by La Hire Paris Obs. 1705 10 11 11 47 1 3 The drawing is schematic Paris Obs. 1705 10 12 11 47 1 7 The drawing is schematic Paris Obs. 1705 10 14 11 47 1 4 The drawing is schematic Paris Obs. 1705 10 15 11 51 1 5 The drawing is schematic Paris Obs. 1705 10 18 11 51 1 6 Paris Obs. 1705 10 19 11 51 1 6 In Memoires (1705, page 126): the next day, the sunspot was still seen Paris Obs. 1705 11 6 11 51 1 1 The drawing is schematic Paris Obs. 1705 11 8 11 51 1 1 The drawing is schematic Paris Obs. 1705 11 10 11 51 1 1 The drawing is schematic Paris Obs. 1705 11 11 11 51 1 1 The drawing is schematic Paris Obs. 1705 11 14 11 51 1 NaN This is a sunspot measurement by La Hire. In Memoires (1705, page 126): the sunspot was seen on 17 November. It has not undergone any significant changes Paris Obs. 1705 11 17 NaN NaN 1 NaN In Memoires (1705, page 126): the sunspot was seen on 17 November. It has not undergone any significant changes Paris Obs. 1706 4 6 11 50 1 5 There could be more sunspots, because in Memoires it is noted that there were several small sunspots Paris Obs. 1706 4 7 11 48 1 NaN La Hire: macula adea debilis ut vix apparebat Paris Obs. 1706 4 9 11 54 1 3 La Hire: macula debilis Paris Obs. 1706 4 10 11 52 1 NaN La Hire: macula non vidi quasiram deligeuhar in tubo quadrantis sed ope tubi 16 pedum apparebat ad huc sed exigua Paris Obs. 1706 6 4 11 54 1 1 La Hire: macula Exigua Paris Obs. 1706 6 19 11 52 1 3 In Memoires: sunspot cluster Paris Obs. 1706 6 23 11 52 0 0 In Memoires: sunspot cluster Paris Obs. 1706 9 14 11 45 1 1 La Hire: macula non aparebat amplius Paris Obs. 1706 9 15 11 45 1 1! From a very schematic small sketch Paris Obs. 1706 9 17 11 51 1 1! From a very schematic small sketch Paris Obs. 1706 9 18 11 51 1 5 Paris Obs. 1706 9 19 11 51 1 NaN Paris Obs. 1706 9 20 11 51 1 9 Paris Obs. 1706 11 10 11 51 1 2 (!) This measurement is from Cassini's journal Paris Obs. 1706 11 11 11 55 1 9 Paris Obs. 1706 11 13 10 31 1 NaN (!) This measurement is from Cassini's journal Paris Obs. 1706 12 7 11 53 1 8 In Memoires: sunspot cluster Paris Obs. 1706 12 11 11 56 1 8 Paris Obs. 1706 12 17 11 51 1 6 Paris Obs. 1707 1 2 11 51 1 NaN Paris Obs. 1707 2 25 11 51 1 7 Paris Obs. 1707 2 26 11 51 1 10 Paris Obs. 1707 2 27 11 51 1 11 Paris Obs. 1707 3 1 11 50 1 10 Paris Obs. 1707 3 20 11 52 1 3! The drawing is schematic Paris Obs. 1707 3 23 11 52 1 11 Paris Obs. 1707 3 24 11 51 2 14! Cassini in Memoires mentioned that there were two sunspot groups on the Sun Paris Obs. 1707 3 26 11 51 1 NaN Paris Obs. 1707 3 28 11 48 1 4! The drawing is schematic Paris Obs. 1707 3 31 11 51 1 NaN Paris Obs. 1707 4 1 11 51 1 NaN Paris Obs. 1707 4 3 11 50 1 NaN Paris Obs. 1707 5 11 11 51 1 NaN This is not an actual observation, but a calculation. The sunspot cluster was observed on 15 May by Cassini Paris Obs. 1707 7 19 11 51 1 3! Drawing is schematic. On 22 July, La Hire noted that the sunspot was no longer visible, not even the day before (Macula non apparebat amplius neque die pracedenti) Paris Obs. 1707 9 28 11 51 1 NaN Paris Obs. 1707 9 29 11 51 1 2! The drawing is schematic Paris Obs. 1707 10 1 11 52 1 NaN The drawing is schematic Paris Obs. 1707 11 14 11 51 1 NaN Paris Obs. 1707 11 15 11 51 1 NaN Paris Obs. 1707 11 16 11 51 2 NaN Paris Obs. 1707 11 17 11 51 1 1! The drawing is schematic Paris Obs. 1707 11 19 11 51 1 4! The drawing is schematic Paris Obs. 1707 11 20 11 51 1 6! The drawing is schematic Paris Obs. 1707 11 22 11 51 1 3! The drawing is schematic Paris Obs. 1707 11 27 11 53 2 5! The drawing is schematic Paris Obs. 1707 12 1 11 55 1 1! The drawing is schematic Paris Obs. 1707 12 3 11 51 1 NaN Paris Obs. 1707 12 15 11 51 1 NaN Paris Obs. 1707 11 21 11 49 1 4! The drawing is schematic Paris Obs. 1708 8 11 11 50 1 7 Paris Obs. 1708 8 12 11 50 1 9 Paris Obs. 1708 8 13 11 50 1 16 Paris Obs. 1708 8 14 11 49 1 19 Paris Obs. 1708 8 15 11 49 1 10 Paris Obs. 1708 8 16 11 49 1 5 Paris Obs. 1708 8 18 11 51 1 6 The drawing is schematic Paris Obs. 1708 9 2 11 49 1 1! The drawing is schematic. Apparently, there were several sunspots. In Memoires, La Hire wrote: There were indeed small sunspots visible on this edge that day Paris Obs. 1708 9 3 11 52 1 2! The drawing is schematic. There could be more sunspots according to the previous day note Paris Obs. 1708 9 4 11 51 1 NaN Paris Obs. 1708 9 5 11 51 1 3! The drawing is schematic. There could be more sunspots. Paris Obs. 1708 9 7 11 50 1 3! The drawing is schematic. There could be more sunspots. Paris Obs. 1708 9 8 11 50 1 NaN Paris Obs. 1708 9 10 11 52 1 NaN Paris Obs. 1708 9 11 11 51 1 NaN Paris Obs. 1708 9 12 11 51 1 1 The drawing is schematic Paris Obs. 1708 9 14 NaN NaN 1 NaN In Memoires, there is a note: Various observers again noticed sunspots on the 14th during the solar eclipse. Paris Obs. 1708 11 14 11 51 1 8 Paris Obs. 1708 11 15 11 51 1 10 Paris Obs. 1708 11 16 19 51 1 NaN A calculation from Memoires Paris Obs. 1708 11 17 11 52 1 10 Paris Obs. 1708 11 18 11 52 1 NaN Paris Obs. 1708 11 24 NaN NaN 1 2! In Memoires, there were noted two main sunspots. There could be more sunspots. Time is unknown Paris Obs. 1708 11 29 NaN NaN 1 NaN This is not an actual observation, but a calculation when the sunspot passed the central meridian. Time is unknown Paris Obs. 1708 12 1 11 54 1 8 Paris Obs. 1709 1 6 11 50 1 2! The drawing is schematic Paris Obs. 1709 1 7 11 51 1 5! The drawing is schematic Paris Obs. 1709 1 10 11 54 1 1 The drawing is schematic Paris Obs. 1709 1 26 11 51 1 1 The drawing is schematic Paris Obs. 1709 1 28 11 52 1 1 The drawing is schematic Paris Obs. 1709 1 30 11 54 1 NaN Paris Obs. 1709 2 3 11 52 2 NaN Paris Obs. 1709 2 5 11 51 1 NaN Paris Obs. 1709 8 25 11 51 1 11 The drawing is schematic. In Memoires, there is a note that several sunspots were seen, separated into two clusters. Paris Obs. 1709 8 27 11 51 1 NaN Paris Obs. 1709 11 12 11 50 1 4 The drawing is schematic Paris Obs. 1709 11 13 11 50 1 NaN Paris Obs. 1709 11 14 11 50 1 NaN Paris Obs. 1709 11 15 11 51 1 NaN Paris Obs. 1709 11 16 11 52 1 NaN Paris Obs. 1710 10 24 11 50 1 NaN Paris Obs. 1710 10 25 11 50 1 NaN Paris Obs. 1710 10 28 11 50 1 NaN