[ noun ] a cooler darker spot appearing periodically on the sun's photosphere; associated with a strong magnetic field <noun.phenomenon>
Solar Max cost $77 million to build and launch in February 1980, at a time of maximum activity in the sun's 11-year sunspot cycle. Its mission was to study solar flares.
It will take about a week for the sunspot group to move out of view from Earth and it could produce more major flares.
"There was a stunning view of that large sunspot group," Krupp said.
Magnetic storms occur about six times every 11-year sunspot cycle, while flares erupt three or four times annually during the active phase of the sunspot cycle, Cohen said.
Magnetic storms occur about six times every 11-year sunspot cycle, while flares erupt three or four times annually during the active phase of the sunspot cycle, Cohen said.