As the sun's greatest distance from the earth is 93,000,000 miles (pretty nearly) and his least 90,000,000, his greatest, mean, and least apparent diameters are as 93, 91-1/2, and 90 respectively; that is, as 62, 61, and 60 respectively.
Mr.Howlett considers that with a good 3-inch telescope, applied in the manner we have described, all the solar features may be seen, except the separate granules disclosed by first-class instruments in the hands of such observers as Dawes, Huggins, or Secchi.

Faculae may, of course, be well seen.

They are to be looked for near spots which lie close to the sun's limb.
When the sun's general surface is carefully scrutinised, it is found to present a mottled appearance.

This is a somewhat delicate feature.

It results, undoubtedly, from the combined effect of the granules separately seen in powerful instruments.