 EPOD - a service of USRA

The Earth Science Picture of the Day (EPOD) highlights the diverse processes
and phenomena which shape our planet and our lives. EPOD will collect and
archive photos, imagery, graphics, and artwork with short explanatory
captions and links exemplifying features within the Earth system. The
community is invited to contribute digital imagery, short captions and
relevant links.


 Sunspot Sequence AR2781 in 8 days

   December 21, 2020

    #01 (3)

   Photographer:  Paolo Bardelli
   Summary Author:  Paolo Bardelli

    Sunspots appear as small dark areas on the surface of our Star.
   They’re linked to its intense  magnetic field. Occurring in
    cycles of about 11 years (referred to as the solar cycle), their
   presence gives us an indication of the Sun activity. Sunspot
   temperatures are lower (cooler) than the Sun's surface
   ( photosphere).

   After a few years of very low solar activity, in a phase of a deep
   minimum between one cycle and another, a large group of spots called
    AR2781 recently appeared. Because of a spell of unusually fine
   weather, I was able to photograph this grouping for 8 days in a row.
   From the montage of images, the evolution and decay of this group (the
   largest spot could contain our Planet) can be easily followed. Also of
   note is the solar rotation, which curiously isn’t constant but varies
   from 25 days at the poles to 35 at the equator. Images taken at
   Albusciago, Italy, from November 5 - November 12, 2020.

   Photo Details: Images obtained with a Canon 6D camera mounted on a 203
   mm. Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope (f/10), equipped with an Astrosolar
   solar filter on the lens; processing with Photoshop and CC.
     * Albusciago, Italy Coordinates:  45.7395, 8.7939

Related EPODs

    Sunspot Sequence AR2781 in 8 days  Archive - Sunspots
    Analemma from Albusciago, Italy  Annular Eclipse of December 26,
   2019  December Solstice from Space  Encore - Analemma of
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    More...

Sun Links

     *  NASA Solar Dynamics Observatory
     *  NASA Solar Eclipse Page
     *  NOAA Solar Calculator
     *  The Sun-Earth Connection: Heliophysics
     *  The Sunspot Cycle
     *  Solar System Exploration: The Sun
     *  The Sun Now
     *  This Week’s Sky

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