Sunspots expand and contract as they move across the surface of the Sun and can be as large as 80,000 kilometers (50,000 mile) in diameter, making the larger ones visible from Earth without the aid of a telescope
Sunspot maximum and sunspot minimum are the points in time (roughly 6 years apart) when the sun is producing the most, or the least sunspots. In the past this has been measured both by sunspot area and sunspot count and is directly tied to the solar magnetic cycle.
The sunspot cycle is about 11 years in length.
The average sunspot cycle is approximately 11 years, with periods of high sunspot activity followed by lower activity levels. This cycle is known as the solar cycle or the sunspot cycle.
The darkened area of a sunspot is called the umbra. It is the central region of a sunspot where the magnetic field is strongest, causing the area to appear darker compared to the surrounding photosphere of the Sun.
You should never look directly at the Sun to try to see a sunspot, as they are not as dark as they look in photographs. The magnetic disturbance that causes a sunspot will seldom occur in the same location twice.
A Large Sunspot can be up to about 10,000 miles across.
No, sunspots are on the sun. Neptune does have a big dark spot, but it's not a sunspot.
Prominence Sunspot in 1945
Sunspot maximum and sunspot minimum are the points in time (roughly 6 years apart) when the sun is producing the most, or the least sunspots. In the past this has been measured both by sunspot area and sunspot count and is directly tied to the solar magnetic cycle.
The sunspot cycle is about 11 years in length.
The average sunspot cycle is approximately 11 years, with periods of high sunspot activity followed by lower activity levels. This cycle is known as the solar cycle or the sunspot cycle.
Sunspots only look small in relationship to the size of the Sun itself. Even a "small" sunspot, hardly visible, is as big around as the Earth is.
No. Some sunspots are fairly small, compared to the size of the Sun, while some can get pretty big. Sunspots grow, and merge, and a "medium" sized sunspot covers an area larger than the Earth. You can see the daily sunspot number on the web at www.spaceweather.com.
An area on the sun that is cooler is called a sunspot.
No
The Sun is rising close to its high, or peak sunspot cycle.
The center portion of a sunspot is called the umbra. It is the darkest part of the sunspot where the magnetic field is strongest and the temperature is cooler than the surrounding areas.