On July 25, 2026, the Sun’s photosphere displayed several well-developed active regions. This gallery presents close-up views of NOAA Active Regions 4492, 4493, 4494–4495 and 4496.

Sunspots form where intense magnetic fields inhibit the transport of heat, making these regions appear darker than the surrounding photosphere. The images also reveal the Sun’s fine granulation, produced by convection beneath the visible surface.

Each active region has its own structure and evolves at its own pace, often changing significantly within only a few days. Every observation therefore captures a unique moment in the Sun’s constantly changing magnetic activity.

The active regions shown in this image can be verified on the SolarMonitor website, which provides near real-time and archived observations of the Sun, including NOAA active region numbering, magnetograms, solar imagery and other valuable space weather information.