Are Sunspots Disappearing?

**Jason** · 09-08-2009, 12:49 PM

September 3, 2009: The sun is in the pits of the deepest solar minimum in nearly a century. Weeks and sometimes whole months go by without even a single tiny sunspot. The quiet has dragged out for more than two years, prompting some observers to wonder, are sunspots disappearing?

"Personally, I'm betting that sunspots are coming back," says researcher Matt Penn of the National Solar Observatory (NSO) in Tucson, Arizona. But, he allows, "there is some evidence that they won't."

Penn's colleague Bill Livingston of the NSO has been measuring the magnetic fields of sunspots for the past 17 years, and he has found a remarkable trend. Sunspot magnetism is on the decline:

Read more NASA - Are Sunspots Disappearing?

09-08-2009, 12:49 PM	#1
Jason Guard Dog 2012 Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Florida Posts: 3,121 Lodge:	Are Sunspots Disappearing? September 3, 2009: The sun is in the pits of the deepest solar minimum in nearly a century. Weeks and sometimes whole months go by without even a single tiny sunspot. The quiet has dragged out for more than two years, prompting some observers to wonder, are sunspots disappearing? "Personally, I'm betting that sunspots are coming back," says researcher Matt Penn of the National Solar Observatory (NSO) in Tucson, Arizona. But, he allows, "there is some evidence that they won't." Penn's colleague Bill Livingston of the NSO has been measuring the magnetic fields of sunspots for the past 17 years, and he has found a remarkable trend. Sunspot magnetism is on the decline: Read more NASA - Are Sunspots Disappearing? __________________ Is trom an t-ualach an leisce. Ni heolas go haontios Agus na damnaithe fágtha gan focal Glaoigh ormsa i measc na naomh The sky is not the limit there are footprints on the moon.

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