Sunspot
Star's dark patch
A sunspot is a dark patch on the sun's surface, cooler than surrounding areas and associated with intense magnetic activity.
Sunspots appear and disappear in cycles, affecting solar radiation and sometimes disrupting communications on Earth.
Figuratively, a sunspot can be any blemish or temporary mark: a sunspot on an otherwise perfect record.
Atmospheric light display
- geomagnetic stormMagnetosphere disruption from solar activity
- radio blackoutTotal loss of broadcast signals
- power gridLinked transmission system
- ionosphereCharged upper atmospheric layer
magnetosphere · space weather · telecommunications · radiation · polar lights · northern lights · solar radiation · atmospheric effects
Sudden bright burst
- coronaStar's outermost atmosphere
- photosphereStar's light-emitting surface
- magnetic fieldForce zone around magnets
- solar cycleRecurring pattern of stellar activity
plasma · umbra · penumbra · granulation · convection · chromosphere · filament · prominence
Instrument magnifying faraway objects
- solar filterLight-dimming optical attachment
- projectionSomething that extends outward
- amateur astronomyRecreational celestial observation
- trackingMonitoring location over time
sketching · white light · Galileo · historical records · transit · time-lapse · monitoring
aurora
Atmospheric light display
- geomagnetic stormMagnetosphere disruption from solar activity
- radio blackoutTotal loss of broadcast signals
- power gridLinked transmission system
ionosphere · magnetosphere · space weather · telecommunications · radiation · polar lights · northern lights · solar radiation · atmospheric effects · navigation
flare
Sudden bright burst
- coronaStar's outermost atmosphere
- photosphereStar's light-emitting surface
- magnetic fieldForce zone around magnets
solar cycle · plasma · umbra · penumbra · granulation · convection · chromosphere · filament · prominence · solar wind
telescope
Instrument magnifying faraway objects
- solar filterLight-dimming optical attachment
- projectionSomething that extends outward
- amateur astronomyRecreational celestial observation
tracking · sketching · white light · Galileo · historical records · transit · time-lapse · monitoring
- sunflowers
- X-ForceCable, Deadpool, Caliban, X-23
- Southern New MexicoAlamogordo, White Sands, Weed, Chaparral