Sunspots: What are they, and why do they occur?

[Admin]

Sunspots are cooler, planet- regions of strong magnetic fields on the surface of the sun. Explore sunspots in more detail with our comprehensive RjbaP4sxQpiNKVN5y7WxvFe.

Sunspots: What are they, and why do they occur? : Read more

 

[Helio]

The Nat. Weather Service is incorrect in stating the umbra has a temp. of around 6,300K. This is the temp. of the Sun at the lower part of the photosphere. We see this when we observe the central portion of the disk. The outer temp. of the photosphere is around 5000K (inner is 6,290K) . [Bhatnagar & Livingston - Fundamentals of Solar Physics.]

According to a prior Space.com article, "Sunspots have temperatures of about 3,800 degrees K. "

 

[billslugg]

Sunspots have a temperature of 3,800°K and the melting point of diamond is 4300°K. Diamond is also a semiconductor and could support electronics. Perhaps we could make a tiny helicopter out of diamond which could explore a sunspot?

 

[Helio]

That’s a fun idea. I recommend solar power.

The photosphere is very thin, however. ~ 1/6000 that of Earth (sea level).

 

[billslugg]

Solar power might work but what would we do at night? Ha! Ha! just making funny yolk!!
Yes, impinging photons would certainly be the power source. One problem though would be that it would be inside a completely ionized medium and there would be no way to get radio waves out.

 

[Helio]

Solar power might work but what would we do at night? Ha! Ha! just making funny yolk!!
Yes, impinging photons would certainly be the power source. One problem though would be that it would be inside a completely ionized medium and there would be no way to get radio waves out.

What about a polarized UV laser light? At ~ 5700K ( no degree symbol due to absolute scale), the UV potion of the spectrum drops quickly.

I bet I can guess what they would be saying.

 

[billslugg]

Yes, Kelvins are units. Centigrades and Fahrenheits are not. So, also, we should say 3,000 kelvins not 3,000 kelvin. Right?

Yes, extreme UV would be the way to go, easier to get above the noise floor. And, yes, polarization would further increase the signal to noise ratio.

 

[Helio]

Yes, Kelvins are units. Centigrades and Fahrenheits are not. So, also, we should say 3,000 kelvins not 3,000 kelvin. Right?

Yes. I don’t understand, however, why it is lower case. I guess it helps separate the unit from a possessive use, perhaps.

 

[Catastrophe]

Yes, Kelvins are units. Centigrades and Fahrenheits are not. So, also, we should say 3,000 kelvins not 3,000 kelvin. Right?

Yes, extreme UV would be the way to go, easier to get above the noise floor. And, yes, polarization would further increase the signal to noise ratio.

"Yes, Kelvins are units. Centigrades and Fahrenheits are not."

Reminds me of my physics teacher about 70 years ago. He would go "mad" if anyone referred to a temperature difference of, say, "55°C", instead of 55 Centigrade degrees.

Cat

 

[Helio]

Reminds me of my physics teacher about 70 years ago. He would go "mad" if anyone referred to a temperature difference of, say, "55°C", instead of 55 Centigrade degrees.

I’ve never heard it expressed that way. If that is proper then why wouldn’t we see 55 C°?

 

[Catastrophe]

It is true that 55°C is a temperature, not a temperature difference. It cannot be both, unless part of a temperature scale (e.g., °C) and that is illusory/coincidental.
55°C is 55 C° above 0°C, making it both a T and a T diff.

Cat