Astronomy
The Study of Sunspots and Their Connection to Space Weather
Quick fact
A single large sunspot can be larger than Earth, and its dark appearance is because it is about 4,000°C cooler than its surroundings, still thousands of degrees hotter than any point on our planet.
Why this is interesting
You've likely seen photos of dark spots on the Sun—but did you know that these spots are the source of storms that can knock out satellites and power grids on Earth?