Sun and Sunspots
The average sunspot is quite large, about the size of the earth.
Sunspots, Clusters Of Hot Magnetic Activity
By Mark Mathosian
Sunspots made the headlines when a cluster of them about 16 times the size of earth began causing havoc with cell phones and satellite dishes around the world. With a telescope and a protective solar filter sunspots can be observed on the face of the sun. In this photo shot from Naples, Florida, you can see several.
Sunspots are areas of the sun that are cooler than the surrounding surface. They are caused by intense magnetic activity popping through the sun’s surface. Sunspots appear as dark blotches on the surface but in realty they are very bright. They appear dark because the rest of the sun is so brilliant.
The existence of sunspots has been known for hundreds of years, even before the advent of telescopes. Naked eye observations of sunspots (during periods when the sun is covered by thin veil of clouds or mist) have been recorded as early as 28 BCE in China. The scientific study of sunspots began in the West when Galileo turned his telescope towards the sun in 1610.
Sunspots start out as small irregularly shaped forms and grow to their full size within days or weeks. They gradually disappear, typically by breaking into smaller sunspots. While they are active they can generate solar flares that bombard the earth with radiation. It is this radiation that causes havoc with cell phones and other types of electronic equipment.
Today, we know that the Sun enters into cycles of intense magnetic activity every 11 years. According to scientists, we are reaching the end of a cycle that peaked in May of 2000. However, that doesn’t mean all solar flare activity will end. There will still be plenty of opportunities to observe sunspots with the proper telescope or eye protection.
For those of you interested in learning more, there are several good books on the subject and websites you can visit that have information about observing the sun. Special telescopes specifically designed for sun viewing are also available. The only drawback is that they are a bit more expensive than the average telescope.
Copyright - Mark Mathosian
Photo was shot in 2003
Sun and Sunspots
The average sunspot is quite large, about the size of the earth.
Sunspots, Clusters Of Hot Magnetic Activity
By Mark Mathosian
Sunspots made the headlines when a cluster of them about 16 times the size of earth began causing havoc with cell phones and satellite dishes around the world. With a telescope and a protective solar filter sunspots can be observed on the face of the sun. In this photo shot from Naples, Florida, you can see several.
Sunspots are areas of the sun that are cooler than the surrounding surface. They are caused by intense magnetic activity popping through the sun’s surface. Sunspots appear as dark blotches on the surface but in realty they are very bright. They appear dark because the rest of the sun is so brilliant.
The existence of sunspots has been known for hundreds of years, even before the advent of telescopes. Naked eye observations of sunspots (during periods when the sun is covered by thin veil of clouds or mist) have been recorded as early as 28 BCE in China. The scientific study of sunspots began in the West when Galileo turned his telescope towards the sun in 1610.
Sunspots start out as small irregularly shaped forms and grow to their full size within days or weeks. They gradually disappear, typically by breaking into smaller sunspots. While they are active they can generate solar flares that bombard the earth with radiation. It is this radiation that causes havoc with cell phones and other types of electronic equipment.
Today, we know that the Sun enters into cycles of intense magnetic activity every 11 years. According to scientists, we are reaching the end of a cycle that peaked in May of 2000. However, that doesn’t mean all solar flare activity will end. There will still be plenty of opportunities to observe sunspots with the proper telescope or eye protection.
For those of you interested in learning more, there are several good books on the subject and websites you can visit that have information about observing the sun. Special telescopes specifically designed for sun viewing are also available. The only drawback is that they are a bit more expensive than the average telescope.
Copyright - Mark Mathosian
Photo was shot in 2003