Hi Debra,

This is a very good observation! There is a reason and it is kind of complicated. Sunspots do occur closer to the poles, but more sunspots are found closer and closer to the equator as the Sun goes through its 22 year cycle. Where the sunspots end up has to do with the way that the Sun's magnetic fields get wrapped up and pop-out of the Sun to help create sunspots. Although we understand the underlying physics of sunspots, which includes magnetism and the dynamics of how fluids move, we cannot yet quite "copy" or model the process. So one answer to your question could be: we don't exactly know yet! Perhaps you will be one of the future scientists to explain it even better than how we understand it now.

Laura