How does the number of sunspots change over time?
For Teachers: The Complete Standards: Grade 8: Earth Sciences: Standard 4: The structure and composition of the universe can be learned from studying stars and galaxies and their evolution. a. Students know that the Sun is one of many stars in the Milky Way galaxy and that stars may differ in size, temperature, and color. b. Students know how to use astronomical units and light years as measures of distances between the Sun, stars, and Earth. c. Students know that stars are the source of light for all bright objects in outer space and that the Moon and planets shine by reflected sunlight, not by their own light. Grade 8: Reactions: Standard 5: Chemical reactions are processes in which atoms are rearranged into different combinations of molecules. As a basis for understanding this concept: a. Students know reactant atoms and molecules interact to form products with different chemical properties. b. Students know the idea of atoms explains the conservation of matter: In chemical reaction
The Sun goes through an 11-year cycle of activity. At present we are at solar minimum activity, and it’s very rare to see any sunspots, flares, or prominences on the Sun. In five or six years, we will be at solar maximum activity, and there often will be dozens, even hundreds of sunspots visible on a given day, plus many flares and prominences.
