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06 November 2011

WHAT ARE SUNSPOTS?

Sunspot 1302 (right) and 1305 (center) on 01.10.2011
hello everyone!

Many has asked me what is a sunspot.
Well, In my many attempts to explain the phenomena, its always difficult to explain and confuses people more then giving them an answer.
So what is a sunspot?
Sunspots are temporary phenomena on the photosphere of the Sun that appear visibly as dark spots compared to surrounding regions. (read more on wikipedia >>>)

As I read the news about sunspot AR1339 it made me think of the biggest ever sunspot recorded to this day. What is the biggest sunspot ever? Well here is a link to a brief history of the phenomena and an explanatory of sunspots.
READ HERE >>>. Apparently the biggest Sunspot ever recorded was back in 1947. Also sunspot 5395 in 1989 was remarkable and AR9393 in 2001 hit the "spot".

These phenomena may bring heavy magnetic storm here on Earth and disrupt are communication systems and radio frequencies, but it also bring us the extraordinary northern lights that are so beautiful.

A word of advise: Please be careful when viewing the Sun, it can blind you and must only be looked with certified sun filters. please be cautious and ask your astronomy club for more information.

Tapani Isomäki
Kustavi, Finland

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