Hale's Law

Hale’s Law states that sunspots tend to appear in pairs with opposite magnetic polarities, and these pairs generally follow an consistent pattern within a solar cycle. In one half of the solar cycle, the leading sunspot (the one facing forward in the Sun's rotation) usually has one magnetic polarity, while the trailing sunspot has the opposite. In the next cycle, this polarity typically reverses. This pattern helps scientists understand the Sun’s magnetic field behavior over time and is key to studying solar activity and its effects on space weather.