Are Those Specks on the Sun Sunspots? Decoding a Smoky Sky Observation
Living in Washington state recently, many of us have experienced the surreal sight of a reddened sun, a stark reminder of the ongoing wildfire smoke blanketing the region. Amidst this hazy spectacle, one observant sky-watcher noticed small dark spots on the sun's disk and wondered: are these actual sunspots?
Understanding the Phenomenon
The short answer is yes, those small dark spots you're seeing are indeed sunspots! This is a common occurrence when observing the sun through atmospheric interference, such as smoke or dust, which can filter out some of the sun's brighter light and make features like sunspots more visible. Sunspots are temporary phenomena on the photosphere of the Sun that appear darker than surrounding areas because they are regions of reduced surface temperature caused by concentrations of magnetic field flux that inhibit convection.
Tracking Solar Activity
For those fascinated by solar activity and wanting to confirm their observations, the website SpaceWeather.com is an invaluable resource. As one commenter kindly shared, it provides daily images of the sun, allowing you to compare your observations with professionally captured data. You can even look up previous images by changing the date, potentially matching up the sunspots you saw on the day you took your photo.
This link is an excellent way to dive deeper into the dynamic nature of our Sun and understand the fascinating phenomena it produces.
While wildfire smoke can create dramatic visual effects, it also presents unique opportunities for observing our nearest star. Next time you see a hazy sun, remember that those little dark specks might just be a glimpse into the powerful magnetic activity happening millions of miles away!
