An alternative name for sunspots. Elements in the Sun other than hydrogen and helium. Dust particles in the upper layers of the Sun. The tendency for the Sun's surface to break up because of the magnetic field. The number of sunspots peaks about every 11 years.
Sunspots occur in pairs with opposing magnetic polarity.
Sunspots always occur at the same latitude, or distance from the Sun's equator. Records of sunspot activity have been kept for about 300 years. A full sunspot cycle lasts about 22 years. Solar prominences are periods when the Sun has many sunspots. Aurorae on Earth are caused by energetic particles from the Sun captured by the Earth's magnetic field.