How often do sunspots occur?

Sunspots are dark areas on the surface of the Sun that are caused by magnetic activity. They appear as dark spots, often in groups, and can be several times the size of the Earth. The frequency of sunspot occurrence is tied to the solar cycle, which lasts approximately 11 years.

During the solar cycle, the number of sunspots increases and decreases in a cyclical pattern. The period of maximum sunspot activity is known as the solar maximum, while the period of minimum activity is known as the solar minimum. At the peak of the solar cycle, there can be as many as 200 sunspots on the Sun's surface, while at the minimum there may be none.

The exact timing and amplitude of each solar cycle can vary, and predicting the timing of the next solar maximum or minimum is an area of active research. However, on average, a complete solar cycle lasts about 22 years, with 11 years of increasing sunspot activity followed by 11 years of decreasing activity.