Spinning Spots: Tracking the Rotation of Solar α-Sunspots and What It Means for Other Stars
Emily Joe Lößnitz and colleagues measured how α-sunspots, stable round sunspots, rotate across the Sun. They found these spots spin slightly faster than the quiet Sun but slower than average sunspots, indicating shallower anchoring. Using this data, they developed a rotation law adaptable to other stars, showing how differential rotation shapes stellar light curves and can influence exoplanet studies.
Tracking Solar Supergranulation: How the Sun’s Surface Patterns Evolve Over Its Magnetic Cycle
This study tracks how the Sun’s supergranulation, a surface flow pattern, varies over its magnetic cycle and impacts exoplanet detection. Using HARPS-N data and two correction methods, the authors found that supergranulation timescales are longest during solar minimum. They also show that observing strategies must account for this variability to improve planet-hunting precision, both for the Sun and other stars.
Is Our Sun Special? Comparing the Sun to Its Stellar Siblings
Herbst et al. analyzed 48 Sun-like stars to see how closely they resemble the Sun in magnetic activity. Only one star, KIC 11599385, matched the Sun in key properties, including faculae dominance and rotation period. This suggests the Sun may be rare among its peers, highlighting the need for more precise, unbiased observations.