ASTRON 10 Lecture Notes - Lecture 17: Maunder Minimum, Photosphere, Convection Cell
Document Summary
Hydrogen alpha light (most common light in the universe), ultraviolet, infrared, Looking at the sun in hydrogen alpha light shows many details. Pattern most likely caused by magnetic fields. There is no net magnetic field around the sun, just smaller, local fields. Looking at the sun in uv light gives the surface a splotchy appearance. No one expected it to look as it did. Surface of the sun (photosphere) is around 6000k, which is too low to create x- rays. X-ray creation requires 1,000,000+ k to be created. Areas of lower temperature on the sun. Groups of sunspots moving around the sun indicates that the sun rotates. Most active areas of temperature are near sunspot groups. Structure somewhat resembles herds of african elephants. Dark center is deeper than the grey outsides. About 11 years in length (has been 9 in one cycle) There have been periods with prolonged minimums (the maunder.
