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Last Post 10/22/2008 9:29 AM by  Emilia Kilpua
sunspots
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10/22/2008 9:00 AM

    Patrick (Fx) 5th grade

    When was it first learned that there were solar cycles, and why are low and high points in the numbers of spots? thank you


    Emilia Kilpua



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    10/22/2008 9:29 AM

    Hi Patrick!

    Solar cycle was already discovered in mid 1800s. A German astronomer Heinrich Schwabe had observed sunspots every clear day for 17 years. By examining he's recordings Schwabe noticed that the number of sunspots was increasing and decreasing in a systematic way, about in a cycle of 11 years. Later, much longer time periods of sunspot reconrdings were used to confirm this 11-year cycle.

    You can find sunspot graphics for example from http://sidc.oma.be/sunspo...cs/sidc_graphics.php

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