Johannes Kepler's 1607 sketches of sunspots solve solar mystery

German astronomer Johannes Kepler’s sketches of sunspots from 1607 are helping scientists solve a solar mystery. By studying the sun’s variability over time, researchers hope to answer longstanding questions about the star. Kepler’s overlooked sketches are providing crucial historical insights into solar activity in the 17th century. The recreations of Kepler’s drawings suggest that his sunspot records predate existing telescopic observations and provide information about the location and phase of the solar cycle in 1607. This research aids in understanding the transition from regular solar cycles to the grand solar minimum known as the Maunder Minimum.