October 13, 2008

The Sun: Quiet, Too Quiet

sol01.jpg
21 stunning pictures of the Sun -- then and now.

The Sun is now in the quietest phase of its 11-year activity cycle, the solar minumum - in fact, it has been unusually quiet this year - with over 200 days so far with no observed sunspots. The solar wind has also dropped to its lowest levels in 50 years. - The Sun - The Big Picture - Boston.com
sol05.jpg

Posted by Vanderleun at October 13, 2008 9:17 AM | TrackBack
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"It is impossible to speak in such a way that you cannot be misunderstood." -- Karl Popper N.B.: Comments are moderated and may not appear immediately. Comments that exceed the obscenity or stupidity limits will be either edited or expunged.

Al Gore and his acolytes would like to take this opportunity to remind you that the single largest source of heat in the Solar System has absolutely NOTHING to do with the heating and cooling of this planet.

Posted by: Exurbankevin at October 13, 2008 9:42 AM

I was going to say that I expect Obama to propose a massive government program to deal with this "solar crisis".

Posted by: Yanni.Znaio at October 13, 2008 9:58 AM

Surely we must figure out how and why we are causing this change.....;-/

Posted by: DaveyJ at October 13, 2008 11:01 AM

Wowzers! Thanks, Gerard.

My astronomer son is sitting across the couch from me and I'm about to share those awesome photos you've linked to.

Yep, we're keeping an eye on that new solar cycle 24 sunspot.

Interesting times . . .

Posted by: Cathy at October 13, 2008 11:05 AM

Pssst! There's a new sunspot on the sun, #1005, that's part of the new Solar Cycle 24. It's several days old and if it lasts the solar minimum we've been in may be about to end.

Posted by: Webutante at October 13, 2008 2:06 PM

Pssst! There's a new sunspot on the sun, #1005, that's part of the new Solar Cycle 24. It's several days old and if it lasts the solar minimum we've been in may be about to end.

Posted by: Webutante at October 13, 2008 2:07 PM

ISn't it amazing that closeups of outer space always look just like us? Closeups of star births look remarkably like fiber optics of our reproductive systems. And those close ups of the sun reminded me of our blood cells.

Posted by: Lieei at October 13, 2008 3:32 PM

It's just a coincidence I suppose, but the oil field tends to peak on an 11-year cycle too.

Posted by: Deborah at October 13, 2008 10:26 PM

In Fred Hoyle's "Rockets in Ursa Major" the scientist-hero destroys the enemy aliens by dropping Lithium into the sun, causing it to violently erupt.

Just an idea. If it gets too quiet.

Posted by: Brett_McS at October 14, 2008 4:00 AM

Does this mean I can stop shaking my fist at the sun at noon bellowing, "Light, goddamn you! LIGHT!" yet?

Posted by: jaed at October 14, 2008 2:13 PM
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