Science
Related: About this forumThe Sun Is Eerily Quiet, And Scientists Aren't Sure Why
Just a few weeks back the Sun was peppered with sunspots- dark areas stretching thousands of kilometers across that come and go. This was hardly surprising given that it is currently in the middle of its solar maximum- the most active period in the Suns 11-year cycle. But in an image taken last Thursday by NASAs Solar Dynamics Observatory there was not a spot in sight. A day later, one lonely sunspot seemed to be making an appearance, and scientists arent quite sure why the Sun is displaying this peculiarly quiet behavior.
According to solar physicist Tony Phillips, while this observation is out of the ordinary, the solar maximum we are currently experiencing is the weakest one for a century.
Its weird, but its not super weird, Phillips told LA Times. It all underlines that solar physicists really dont know what the heck is happening on the Sun. We just dont know how to predict the Sun, that is the take away message of this event.
Sunspots are caused by extremely strong magnetic fields that cause magnetic pressure to increase in an area while the surrounding atmospheric pressure decreases. This then causes a slight drop in temperature as the concentrated magnetic field prevents hot gas flowing from the Suns interior to the surface. Sunspots often occur in pairs with the magnetic field pouring out of one and entering the other.
Read more at http://www.iflscience.com/space/sun-eerily-quiet-and-scientists-arent-sure-why
4139
(1,893 posts)Solar terrestrial activity
http://www.solen.info/solar/
Silent3
(15,204 posts)Warren DeMontague
(80,708 posts)It's not depressed, honest.
Louisiana1976
(3,962 posts)DirkGently
(12,151 posts)YOU know what you did.
Mnemosyne
(21,363 posts)lady lib
(2,933 posts)Cooperstown
(49 posts)A tree fell in a wind rain storm on my neighbor's yard last week hitting his car.
He's a Republican. This never happened under Bush, who kept his car safe!
Snark/satire/irony alert.
Marie Marie
(9,999 posts)ProdigalJunkMail
(12,017 posts)but now there seem to be a few rotating around. not really sure what's going on...
sP
BlueJazz
(25,348 posts)Though a solar filter, of course.
I've wanted to buy a hydrogen-Alpha filter/scope but the dog-gone things are so expensive. (700-3000 bucks) yikes!