sunspot

Table of Contents

Introduction References & Edit History Related Topics

Images & Videos

Study the zoomed-in view of a large sunspot group taken by the Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager, March 29, 2010

Galileo Galilei: sunspots

active region of the Sun

photosphere of the Sun

average yearly sunspot numbers

sunspot drawings

Diagram of sunspot observations made by Johannes Hevelius, 1647.

Observe a close-up of a rotating sunspot

Read Next

Galaxy clusters like Abell 2744 can act as a natural cosmic lens, magnifying light from more distant, background objects through gravity. NASA's James Webb Space Telescope may be able to detect light from the first stars in the universe if they are gravitationally lensed by such clusters. (astronomy, space exploration, galaxies)

How Fast Is the Universe Expanding?

Infinite space background with silhouette of telescope. This image elements furnished by NASA.

Telescopes: Seeing Stars

Planet Jupiter with its moon Io at left, photographed by the Cassini orbiter during the Cassini-Huygens mission, 2000. spacecraft

7 Important Dates in Jupiter History

Discover

New Zealand. Political/Physical map. Includes locator.

Where Is “Old Zealand”?

Illustration for Demystified "How Dangerous is Quicksand"

How Deadly Is Quicksand?

Marriage. A couple getting married during a church wedding ceremony. (religion, ceremony, bride, groom)

The Seven Sacraments of the Roman Catholic church

July, 2006, Launch of Space Shuttle Discovery STS-121. See attached for full caption information.

Will Light-Speed Space Travel Ever Be Possible?

Two chicks near an egg with a white background (poultry, chick, chickens, birds).

What Do Eggs Have to Do with Easter?

Rural Irish landscape, Sligo, Ireland.

Why Is Ireland Two Countries?

African Americans demonstrating for voting rights in front of the White House as police and others watch, March 12, 1965. One sign reads, "We demand the right to vote everywhere." Voting Rights Act, civil rights.

Timeline of the American Civil Rights Movement

sunspot: Related Content

Written and fact-checked by The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Photos and Videos

Galileo Galilei: sunspots

active region of the Sun

photosphere of the Sun

average yearly sunspot numbers

sunspot drawings

Diagram of sunspot observations made by Johannes Hevelius, 1647.

Study the zoomed-in view of a large sunspot group taken by the Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager, March 29, 2010

Observe a close-up of a rotating sunspot

Study the magnetic fields in a sunspot pair as observed by the Helioseismic Magnetic Imager, March 29, 2010

See All Videos and Images →

Topics

Wolf’s sunspot number Evershed effect sunspot cycle sunspot maximum butterfly diagram photosphere solar activity solar cycle solar flare solar prominence facula limb darkening Fraunhofer lines

Dig Deeper: More Articles That Discuss This Topic

Key People

Galileo

Galileo

Italian philosopher, astronomer and mathematician

George Ellery Hale

American astronomer

Maria Mitchell

Maria Mitchell

American astronomer

Lockyer

Sir Joseph Norman Lockyer

British astronomer

Richard Christopher Carrington

British astronomer

Seth Barnes Nicholson

American astronomer

Johannes Fabricius

Dutch astronomer

Quiz

Nicolaus Copernicus. Nicolas Copernicus (1473-1543) Polish astronomer. In 1543 he published, forward proof of a Heliocentric (sun centered) universe. Coloured stipple engraving published London 1802. De revolutionibus orbium coelestium libri vi.

All About Astronomy

The orbits of the planets and other elements of the solar system, including asteroids, Kuiper belt, Oort cloud, comet

Space Odyssey

View of the Andromeda Galaxy (Messier 31, M31).

Astronomy and Space Quiz