English astronomer Edward W. Maunder was born #OTD in 1851.
The Maunder Minimum, named after him, refers to a period of low solar activity that occurred from about 1645 to 1715. During this time, very few sunspots were observed, indicating a decrease in solar magnetic activity. His research into historical records of sunspot observations led to the recognition of this extended period of solar quiescence, which is now associated with a decrease in global temperatures on Earth.