Comet Enthusiast

Sunspot formation is triggered by the Sun's magnetic field, which scientists at the National Solar Observatory say is steadily declining, predicting that by 2015 there may be no remaining sunspots. The sun may stay spotless for several decades. The last time the sunspots disappeared altogether, historical records show, was in the 17th and 18th century, and coincided with a lengthy cool period known as the Little Ice Age.