Solar rotation

The solar rotation can be seen in the background of this false color video.

Solar rotation varies with latitude. The Sun is not a solid body, but is composed of a gaseous plasma. Different latitudes rotate at different periods. The source of this differential rotation is an area of current research in solar astronomy.[1] The rate of surface rotation is observed to be the fastest at the equator (latitude φ = 0°) and to decrease as latitude increases. The solar rotation period is 25.67 days at the equator and 33.40 days at 75 degrees of latitude.[2]

The Carrington rotation[clarification needed] at the time this article was loaded, 22 November 2024 16:12:59 (UTC), was CR2291.

  1. ^ Zell, Holly (2015-03-02). "Solar Rotation Varies by Latitude". NASA. Retrieved 2019-02-14.
  2. ^ Lang, Kenneth R. (2013). Essential Astrophysics. Springer Science & Business Media. p. 121. ISBN 9783642359637. Retrieved 21 May 2024.