noao_sun_sunspot_001.jpg

    Caption: The Sun in visible band (with filter transmission giving white light) with sunspots including a rare spiral one.

    This image must have been taken in kind of a neutral density filter. So I think it approximates what you would see if you just toned down the sunlight in the visible to a tolerable level without re-mixing the colors. So the Sun looks yellow, but at a higher intensity would look like white light---or so yours truly thinks, but yours truly is NOT sure.?????

    The background is fake.

    Note the Sun is darker toward the edges where you are NOT seeing so directly into the hotter brighter layers.

    This darkening toward the edge is called limb darkening.

      The edge of an astro-body projected onto the celestial sphere is called a limb.

    We can see some sunspots. They look dark only by comparison to the rest of the Sun. They are a bit cooler, and so a bit dimmer than the rest of the Sun. They are a transient magnetic phenomenon---a part of Sun weather.

    The Sun actually tends to look rather bland and quiescent in broad-band visible light.

    In the ultraviolet and X-ray, the Sun looks more violent with big swirls---but, of course, the images from these wavelength bands are all in false color.

    Credit/Permission: NSO/AURA/NSF, © NOAO/AURA, 1982 / NOAO/AURA Image Library Conditions of Use.
    Original download site: NASA Image Gallery: White light, February 19th 1982.
    Image link: Itself.
    Local file: local link: sun_white_light.html.
    File: Sun file: sun_white_light.html.