This contrasts with the typical 40,000–50,000 sunspots seen in modern times over a similar timespan. During a 28-year period (1672–1699) within the minimum, observations revealed fewer than 50 sunspots.
The Maunder Minimum, also known as the 'prolonged sunspot minimum', was a period around 1645 to 1715 during which sunspots became exceedingly rare. The Maunder Minimum shown in a 400-year history of sunspot numbers