It is also known that some white dwarfs with very strong magnetic fields vary in brightness as they spin. Among the various mechanisms which have been proposed to explain this is the possible existence of spots, similar to sunspots, on the surface of the white dwarf.
Se sabe, además, que algunas enanas blancas con campos magnéticos intensos varían de brillo al rotar, lo que se ha intentado explicar suponiendo distintos mecanismos físicos, entre ellos la existencia de manchas, similares a las manchas solares, en la superficie de este tipo de estrellas.