How is this possible? It’s all thanks to drawings made by Kepler in 1607. The astronomer then sketched the sunspots that cover the surface of our star. Now scientists have decided to analyze these drawings again, using a number of techniques that were not available in the 17th century. Members of the research team write about the implications of the approach used Astrophysical Journal Letters.
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Representatives from Nagoya University are behind the progress. Japanese astronomers have identified the locations indicated by Kepler and determined their chronological affiliation. In this way, it turns out that the conclusions drawn could be the key to understanding the phenomenon of the so-called Maunder Minimum. This name refers to a period that lasted about 70 years, roughly from 1645 to 1715.
What stood out was the much lower number of sunspot reports than average. This is a very important point because the Maunder Minimum is associated with a drop in temperatures on Earth. It occurred during the Little Ice Age. This in turn leads to the conclusion that solar activity has a much greater influence on the Earth’s climate fluctuations than we previously thought.
Kepler drew sunspots without knowing it. His drawings may help explain the conditions under which the so-called Maunder Minimum occurs.
Interestingly, Kepler himself did not know exactly what he had drawn. He thought it was a transit of Mercury across the Sun. However, they were actually sunspots. These regions are characterized by low temperatures and much stronger magnetic fields. The periodic appearance and disappearance of these structures is linked to periods of activity of our star.
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As the research team members emphasize, by placing Kepler’s discoveries in broader reconstructions of solar activity, the changes in the Sun’s behavior during this key period can be much better explained. The big unknown is why the transition from regular cycles to solar minimum occurred.
Echo Richards embodies a personality that is a delightful contradiction: a humble musicaholic who never brags about her expansive knowledge of both classic and contemporary tunes. Infuriatingly modest, one would never know from a mere conversation how deeply entrenched she is in the world of music. This passion seamlessly translates into her problem-solving skills, with Echo often drawing inspiration from melodies and rhythms. A voracious reader, she dives deep into literature, using stories to influence her own hardcore writing. Her spirited advocacy for alcohol isn’t about mere indulgence, but about celebrating life’s poignant moments.
