Sunspots

Definition

Sunspots are temporary, dark regions on the Sun's surface caused by magnetic activity. They appear darker because they are cooler than the surrounding areas.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Sunspots follow an approximately 11-year cycle known as the solar cycle.
2. The number of sunspots correlates with solar activity such as solar flares and coronal mass ejections.
3. Sunspots often appear in pairs or groups with opposite magnetic polarity.
4. The presence of sunspots can affect space weather and satellite communications on Earth.
5. Galileo Galilei was one of the first to observe and document sunspots using a telescope in the early 17th century.

Review Questions

• What causes sunspots to appear darker than the surrounding areas on the Sun?
• How often does the solar cycle, which includes periods of high and low sunspot activity, occur?
• Why do sunspots usually appear in pairs or groups?

Related terms

Solar Flare:

A sudden eruption of intense high-energy radiation from the Sun's surface associated with sunspot activity

Coronal Mass Ejection (CME): A massive burst of solar wind and magnetic fields rising above the solar corona or being released into space

Magnetic Field:

The invisible field around magnetic materials where magnetism affects other objects; crucial in forming sunspots