Posted on 05/17/2023 1:40:47 PM PDT by MtnClimber
Explanation: Why would a small part of the Sun appear slightly dark? Visible is a close-up picture of sunspots, depressions on the Sun's surface that are slightly cooler and less bright than the rest of the Sun. The Sun's complex magnetic field creates these cool regions by inhibiting hot material from entering the spots. Sunspots can be larger than the Earth and typically last for about a week. Part of active region AR 3297 crossing the Sun in early May, the large lower sunspot is spanned by an impressive light bridge of hot and suspended solar gas. This high-resolution picture also shows clearly that the Sun's surface is a bubbling carpet of separate cells of hot gas. These cells are known as granules. A solar granule is about 1000 kilometers across and lasts for only about 15 minutes.
For more detail go to the link and click on the image for a high definition image. You can then move the magnifying glass cursor then click to zoom in and click again to zoom out. When zoomed in you can scan by moving the side bars on the bottom and right side of the image.
“Sunspots can be larger than the Earth...”
Whoa.
By my rough calculations, I estimate the big spot in the picture to be at least 40,000 kilometers in diameter (25,000 miles), which makes that part alone three times the size of our little blue marble.
I had my telescope out last week, looking at sunspots. There was a nice grouping- the total amount of real estate they inhabit for a time is hard to imagine. I can’t wait for a really clear day to get it out again.
Think about this ...
In comparison to our sun, UY Scuti, our Sun’s radius is 1,700 times smaller.
About 5 billion Suns could fit inside UY Scuti.
If it was where Sol resides, its volume would extend almost to the orbit of Saturn.
But even this is but a spark compared to things like quasars and similar objects. Entire galaxies that emit as much energy in a second as the Milky Way generates in a billion years.
Doesn't give organized life such as us much of a chance. If more people appreciated stuff like this, I'd like to think we'd be a lot more humble.
The Sun has acne..........................
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.