Edward Walter Maunder

Edward Walter Maunder was a British astronomer known for his significant contributions to solar physics in the late 19th to early 20th centuries. He is best recognized for identifying the Maunder Minimum, a period from about 1645 to 1715 when sunspots were extremely rare, linked to the Little Ice Age in Europe. Maunder's work advanced our understanding of solar cycles and their impact on Earth’s climate. He also contributed to studies of sunspots, solar radiation, and the nature of the sun, helping to establish fundamental principles in solar science that continue to influence studies today.