From the National Optical Astronomical Observatories
This picture of an unprecedented spiral-shaped sunspot was taken by National Solar Observatory astronomers on February 19th 1982, using the Vacuum Solar Telescope on Kitt Peak. Sunspots are normally seen as irregularly shaped dark holes. This sunspot had a diameter of approximately 50000 miles - about six times the diameter of the Earth - and held its shape for about two days before it broke up and changed its form.
Image Title: A Rare Spiral Sunspot
Credit: AURA/NOAO/NSF
Text based on accompanying on-line materials.
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Last Modified On: Friday, December 16, 2000