A hybrid system for the automated detection and McIntosh-based classification of sunspot groups on SOHO/MDI white-light images using active-region data extracted from SOHO/MDI magnetogram images is presented in this paper. After sunspots are detected from MDI white-light images they are grouped/clustered using MDI magnetogram images. By integrating image-processing and Neural Networks techniques, detected sunspot regions are classified automatically according to the McIntosh classification

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... m. Our results show that the automated grouping and classification of sunspots is possible with a high success rates when compared to the existing manually created catalogues. In addition our system can detect and classify sunspot groups in their early stages, which are usually missed by human observers.