Sky science
Sunspot
Direct answer
Sunspot: A Sunspot is a comparatively dark photospheric region where concentrated magnetic fields suppress convective heat transport.
It is a cooler magnetic feature on the visible Sun.
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At a glance
- Found in
- Astronomy & Skywatching
- Related
- Solar Chromosphere, Solar Corona, Solar Granulation, Solar Prominence
It is a cooler magnetic feature on the visible Sun.
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The story behind Sunspot
Systematic sunspot records helped establish solar rotation and the roughly eleven-year activity cycle.
A one-minute story
The Wandering Stars
How the moving planets were watched, named and found, and what a transit is.
Why Sunspot matters
Sunspot groups trace solar rotation and the changing activity cycle.
How to read Sunspot
Observe only with safe projection or certified front-aperture solar equipment.
Sunspot in practice: an example
A large spot may contain a dark umbra surrounded by a filamented penumbra.
Where readings of Sunspot go wrong
Cloud, film, smoked glass, sunglasses, and unfiltered cameras or telescopes are unsafe.
Sources and editorial method
Research references used for this entry include:
- NASA Science: The Sun - NASA reference for solar structure, activity, the solar wind, and heliophysics.
- NASA Science: Eclipse Viewing Safety - Official solar-viewing guidance for eyes, cameras, binoculars, and telescopes.
- Source
- The Great Almanac Dictionary
- Category
- Astronomy & Skywatching
- Last updated
- 2026-09-26
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Common questions
What is a Sunspot?
A Sunspot is a comparatively dark photospheric region where concentrated magnetic fields suppress convective heat transport.
What do people get wrong about a Sunspot?
Cloud, film, smoked glass, sunglasses, and unfiltered cameras or telescopes are unsafe.
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