Hello, I have been loosely following the increase in solar activity for about the last 6 months. We are entering what is known as a Solar Maximum, during the Sun's 11 year cycle. Here is an article/video with some cool shots of a recent solar eruption. The power of the sun: Now Nasa reveals VIDEO of a 500,000 mile long 'solar whip' that caused an aurora on earth | Mail Online I believe the more we study and understand the sun, the more we will realize how much it affects us on Earth. I think a lot of people think the sun is static, but I think this to be a grave misconception and inherent fallacy in a lot of current day arguments regarding climate change/weather patterns and other Earth and sociological/psychology sciences. Hopefully with more study, we can better comprehend the most important factor to our existence.
Here are some pics from Solar Dynamics Observatory. Pic from last Thursday, beginning of the Fall 2012 eclipse season. When the Earth block the SDO's view. Here is the eruption from Aug 31st, in the article. Same eruption with size comparison. August 22nd-23rd. August 17th. August 14th. X1.4 Flare from July 12th. From the Transit of Venus. These 2 are the same time frame.
I absolutely adore solar astronomy. It is enigmatic, astonishingly beautiful and profoundly meaningful to the existence of all life in our observable Universe. The first time I ever watched the recorded feeds from SOHO, I think is the closest I've ever had to a spiritual epiphany. I'll dig through my bookmarks and see if I can dredge up some photos and videos to contribute. Solid thread!
Here's a good article about possible risks to us here on Earth. As Sun Storms Ramp Up, Electric Grid Braces for Impact
NASA - The Sun Unleashes a Wide, but Benign, CME Here are the current warnings from the Space Weather Prediction Center at NOAA: Space Weather Alerts from SWPC
Spaceweather.com Time Machine Here is a picture of the setting sun from Ontario on Oct 4th. If you focus on the yellow strip on the bottom half of the sun, the 2 distinctly visibly black spots are 2 sunspots. They are not currently flaring though.
the pic where earth is blocking it... does the earth just move in front of it, or what? Looks like a huge shadow, but... its impossible for earth to produce a shadow on the sun....
[quote name='"Izzy Mandelbaum"']The Earth is moving between the satellite and the sun.[/quote] Yea that makes more sense, it looked like a huge shadow and I was thinking "how does one produce a shadow on the very thing that creates eclipse shadows"
Sun erupts 3 coronal mass ejections, Northern Lights predicted for tonight - National Space news | Examiner.com From November 3.