Chinese astronomers during the Han dynasty made the first precisely dated observation of a sunspot.

Chinese astronomy

Aspect of science history

Astronomy in China has a long history stretching from the Shang dynasty, being refined over a period of more than 3,000 years. The ancient Chinese people have identified stars from 1300 BCE, as Chinese star names later categorized in the twenty-eight mansions have been found on…

Han dynasty

Imperial dynasty in China (202 BC – 220 AD)

The Han dynasty was an imperial dynasty of China established by Liu Bang and ruled by the House of Liu. The dynasty was preceded by the short-lived Qin dynasty (221–206 BC) and a warring interregnum known as the Chu–Han Contention (206–202 BC), and it was succeeded by the Three…

Science and technology of the Han dynasty

Many significant developments in the history of science and technology in China took place during the Han dynasty.

Sunspot

Temporary spots on the Sun's surface

Sunspots are temporary spots on the Sun's surface that are darker than the surrounding area. They are regions of reduced surface temperature caused by concentrations of magnetic flux that inhibit convection. Sunspots appear within active regions, usually in pairs of opposite…