SunspotsOur Sun continuously converts hydrogen into helium and with this process provides the essentials for life processes. In this way it controls “our climate, provides light, raises the tides, and drives the food chain” (Schaefer 34). Our Sun has also influenced many beliefs now and in the past. History has documented religions that worship the Sun while many current societies use solar calendars (Schaefer 34). Because the Sun is so influential, imperfections in the Sun, such as sunspots, will continue to impact life on Earth. The discovery of sunspots is related to the invention of the telescope in 1608, although there are earlier records of sunspot-like activity from China (Schaefer 35). Galileo was one of the astronomers who decided to publish his discoveries and use sunspots in one of his theories on the Major World Systems (Schaefer 35-6). Today, many patterns, including real estate sales and climate fluctuations, have been attributed to the sunspot cycle. These fluctuations could be an explanation for the decline of sun worship in India due to increased sunspot activity during the period of the medieval maximum. Throughout history these fluctuations have been omens (for example, a slave revolutionary incited a revolt when he interpreted the location of a large black area on the Sun as black taking over white) (Schaefer 38). There are also modern examples of solar fluctuations affecting Earth, such as the delayed launch of the Hubble Telescope (Schaefer 38) and disruptions in electrical and radio technology during solar flares due to increased sunspot activity during the last solar maximum in 1989. Sunspots are the most noticeable features on the Sun's surface or photosphere. Anyone could use a filter like a welding helmet to observe clusters of sunspots. A sunspot is made up of two regions, the umbra and the penumbra. The temperature of the umbra can be up to 4,000 K and the penumbra surrounding the umbra has a temperature of about 5,500 K which contrasts with the photospheric temperature of 6,000 K. The temperature difference makes sunspots appear dark compared to the brightness of the photosphere. (Nicolson 123). The average size of a sunspot is comparable to that of the Earth. They form in regions of concentrated magnetic fields. These fields hinder the flow of energy to the affected area. The magnetic fields in the center of the sheet. It is hoped that this project will allow scientists to learn more about sunspots and other properties of the Sun. Understanding more about sunspots, their cycle, radiation and magnetic properties will make it easier for scientists to unravel the mysterious workings of the Sun. With today's technology this understanding will come more quickly. Knowledge of sunspots may lead us to be able to predict when solar activity might affect Earth as it did during the 1989 solar maximum. Information like this may eventually allow us to be able to protect ourselves from solar radiation. Works Cited “Analyzing Variation” in Solar Radiation”. United States today. 26 2637 (1998): 11-12.Nehru, KVK glimpses the structure of the Sun—Part 1 The nature of stellar matter. March 22, 2001. .Nehru, KVK takes a look at the structure of the Sun: part 2 The solar interior and sunspots. March 22, 2001.Nicolson, Iain. Unfolding our universe. New York: Cambridge University Press, 1999. 123-4; 276+Philips, Tony Dr. “The Sun Turns Over.” Space science. February 15, 2001. March 19, 2001. Schaefer, Bradley E. "The Sunspots That Changed the World." Sky and telescope. 93.4 (1997). 34-38.