By Jason Likavec | 2024-07-03
![Community photo entitled by Jelieta Walinski on 07/05/2024 at St. David, Arizona, USA](https://ecp.earthsky.org/upl/gravity_forms/6-d613a712aa1020729eb530187e1fe51d/2024/07/WalinskiJelieta_SunJuly5th.jpg)
On 07/05/2024 03:57 pm by Jelieta Walinski| St. David, Arizona, USA
Unveiling the Sun's Complex Beauty: Understanding Sunspots
On July 5, 2024, as the mercury soared to an astonishing 110 degrees Fahrenheit, I found myself grappling with the scorching heat outside. Amidst the stifling conditions, I couldn't help but marvel at the celestial magnificence that graced the clear skies: the Sun, our nearest star, in all its radiant glory. What caught my attention, however, were the intriguing dark patches peppering its surface known as sunspots. These enigmatic features have fascinated scientists and stargazers alike for centuries, encouraging deeper exploration into the dynamics of our sun and its influence on our planet.
Sunspots are cooler, darker regions that periodically appear on the Sun's photosphere, marking areas of intense magnetic activity. Typically appearing in pairs or groups, these ephemeral phenomena harbor immense energy and exhibit powerful magnetic fields, resulting in their distinct dark appearance. While they signify areas of intensified solar activity, they often coincide with reduced solar output, impacting Earth's climate and space weather.
As we delve into the captivating world of sunspots, we invite you to join us on an expedition of knowledge, discovering their formation, effects, and the profound implications they hold for our understanding of the dynamic star that sustains life on Earth.
Seestar
I captured 1.30 minute video in RAW and stacked them using the feature of seestar and uploaded the image in photoshop, increased the contrast, denoise, and resized.