Astronomers used a computer and data about the star AB Doradus to make this picture. This is what the star might look like. Can you see some starspots on AB Doradus?
Click on image for full size
Image courtesy A. Cameron, M. Jardine and K. Wood, University of St Andrews.
Starspots
Did you know that the Sun has spots? They are called sunspots. Other stars have spots too. They are called starspots.
Both sunspots and starspots are cool spots (well, colder than the bright areas around them). They are also darker than the areas around them. Can you pick out any starspots on the star in the picture?
Astronomers have found starspots on stars like AB Doradus and EK Draconis. If you could name a star, what would you name it?
Some of the starspots that astronomers have found are HUGE! They are 10,000 times bigger than the largest
sunspots seen on the Sun.
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