Solar Week - Ask a Question



Come here during Solar Week (next one: March 22-26, 2021) to interact. To post a question, click on your area of interest from the topics below, and then click on the "Ask New Question" button. Or EMAIL or tweet or plant in Answer Garden your question about the Sun or life as a scientist to us -- and watch for it to appear here.  You can also visit our FAQs (frequently asked questions). In between Solar Weeks in October and March, you can view all the archives here.

PrevPrev Go to previous topic
NextNext Go to next topic
Last Post 9/28/2005 3:14 PM by  Sarah Gibson
sunspots
 1 Replies
Sort:
You are not authorized to post a reply.
Author Messages

Anonymous





Posts:


--
9/28/2005 10:15 AM

    Jami S

    How come some sunspots are small, other big, and why do some come in clusters?


    Sarah Gibson



    New Member


    Posts:45
    New Member


    --
    9/28/2005 3:14 PM
    Hi! This has to do with how strong the magnetic fields are in the spots -- the reason the sunspot is dark, is that it is a region of strong magnetic field where heating is suppressed so it is cooler than the surrounding area and so darker. Generally speaking, big sunspots have strong magnetic field. Also, sunspots tend to come in pairs, and the one in front (in the direction of the sun's rotation) tends to be one big one, whereas the spot behind tends to be fragmented. cheers, Sarah
    You are not authorized to post a reply.


    Twitter Feed

    Scientist Leaderboard

    Name # of replies
    Multiverse skin is based on Greytness by Adammer