sunspots
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The number of sunspots goes through a maximum and minimum about every eleven years. During periods of maximum sunspots, the elementary particles associated with the spots cause disturbances in the atmosphere of the Earth and interfere with radio and television communication.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
A solar cycle is the sun's transition from one solar maximum to the next and is measured through the number of visible sunspots on the surface of the sun, the Met Office said.
From BBC • Feb. 1, 2026
During the peak of the current cycle, which Nasa confirmed occurred in October 2024, a higher number of sunspots led to more frequent eruptions of solar flares and coronal mass ejections.
From BBC • Dec. 28, 2025
Starspot: A relatively cool, dark region on a star, similar to sunspots on the Sun.
From Science Daily • Dec. 4, 2025
Right now, the sun is approaching peak levels of activity, and it’ll likely be the mid-2030s before we get another burst of solar flares, sunspots, and coronal mass ejections to rival what’s happening at present.
From Slate • Oct. 16, 2024
Maybe it was something about the rotation of the earth, or sunspots, or something bizarre like that.
From "Found" by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
