From the National Optical Astronomical Observatories
The photosphere of the Sun, taken in white light on October 13, 1989. Two large sunspots appear close together in the center of the disk. These spots are about half as bright as the surrounding surface, making them appear dark by contrast against the disk. The central dark area of each spot is the umbra, and the surrounding lighter region is called the penumbra. Photospheric granulation is barely visible. Bright faculae are visible near the edge or limb.
Image Title: White light, October 13th 1989
Credit: AURA/NOAO/NSF
Text based on accompanying on-line materials.
Back to Solar photographs index.
Last Modified On: Friday, December 15, 2000