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Sunspot Grows to 20 Times Size of Earth
TheHedgehog writes "A sunspot group aimed squarely at Earth has grown to 20 times the size of our planet and has the potential to unleash a major solar storm. 'The implications of this spot have scientists on the edge of their seats,' NASA said in a statement Friday. 'If the active region generates coronal mass ejections (CMEs), massive explosions with a potential force of a billion megaton bombs, it will be a fairly direct hit to Earth and its satellites and power grids.'"
Although it could potentially knock out some satellites, I think we should be sympathetic toward the sun as it goes through this difficult period.
If moderation could change anything, it would be illegal.
So where are the solar control panels located?
7 November 2006: The day Americans realized corruption and incompetence weren't addressing 11 September 2001
Good thing it hasn't developed into a flare yet, otherwise this post wouldn't quite make it to the se
The living have better things to do than to continue hating the dead.
Is this bigger than the series of flares last year, which caused some (mostly unnoticed) trouble with satellites?
I should never go outside again. Now I have proof.
The July 2004 issue of National Geographic had a large article about the sun and how we've come to understand how it works.
It was a fascinating read in the print magazine. I'm not 100% sure that the online article is 100% of the printed article.
Did you know that the radiation that eventually becomes visible light takes 100,000 years to escape from the center of the sun to the corona, due to how dense matter is packed in the middle?
From there it's only 8 minutes to earth.
The corona of the sun itself is hundreds of times hotter than the surface of the sun.
National Geographic sun article
It was a big, scary sunspot on July 23rd. SpaceWeather.com are currently reporting: Sunspot 652 is decaying, but it still has a "beta-gamma-delta" magnetic field that harbors energy for X-class solar flares. And it's not pointing at Earth anymore, it's on the right limb of the Sun.
It seems like everytime something along these lines happens, we get news reports detailing all the various ways that our lives will be disrupted and/or the world can come to an end. And in the meantime, I have *yet* to actually have *anything* noticeable happen as a result of a sunspot/solar flare. No loss of cell service. No random computer crashes. Nothing even close to actual power loss. Much like how constant terror alerts reduce the feeling of eminent danger, I'm now to the point that I'd say "meh" to anything short of a Texas-sized asteroid hurtling directly towards earth.
I mean, I can't wait for auroras to show up ! Me and my camera are waiting !
Judging by the latest SOHO images, it looks like the sun spots are already past us... But IANAA (I am not an astronomer).
At first I thought that was the mother of all goatse.cx pics!
With all of this intense solar storm activity we've been seeing lately, how can anyone with a properly raised consciousness doubt that human beings are upsetting the delicate solar environment? In fact, I hear Michael Moore has another documentary coming up which will PROVE that Americans in general, and Republicans especially, can be entertainingly blamed for most of it.
"Those who have never entered upon scientific pursuits know not a tithe of the poetry by which they are surrounded."
I actually saw the thing during my morning commute - must have been on Friday. There was just the right amount of fog and clouds so that you could "look" at the sun. I saw a black dot - reminded me of the pictures of the transit of Venus a while back. It occurred to me that if it was a sunspot, and I could see the thing that clearly, it must be gigantic.
And when it swooped down to attack, I could see that I was right...
I was driving to work and the sun was coming up through some haze and I could clearly see this big ass sunspot in the lower left-hand quadrant. I kept meaning to find an article about it, maybe some pix, too, but better late than never, I guess.
Danke tres mucho, tovarishch.
Flares must have destroyed it in the past hour! The latest SOHO images only show a black rectangle saying "NO VIDEO".
SOLAR WARMING!
The Ludwig von Mises Institute. The reasoning individuals economics
No, it's not bigger then the X17 event last October.
Remember, you can always get up to date information from NOAA's space weather site, including the page that has updated X-Ray images of the sun, auroral maps, and measurements of the magnetic field among other things.
So which SPF of sunscreen should we use?
And will it mean one ethnic group will survive the onslaught, and another won't?
"Give orange me give eat orange me eat orange give me eat orange give me you." -Nim Chimpsky
I'm asking all the science geeks out there (I'm a geek, just not a astronomy geek) to help me answer, what if this massive sunspot zit thing burst? What is the worst case scenario of all that solar wind?
-Christopher Wu
http://www.christopherwu.net/
"By the way, where you get those uber slang terms? Oh yeah, the 80's."
Exactly. Now, why would I respond to your joke with over used out dated slang expressions? What could I possibly be saying about your post? hmmm?
"Derp de derp."
Heh. Actually this is about you, not me. Pity, you touched on it:
"which stems from the fact that you wanted to use that joke before I did"
I'll give you a little hint: I didn't make that comment because I wanted to use it.
"Derp de derp."
Of course you didn't want to use it, that's why you're going on and on about it. Stop crying, there will be other articles you can use it with.
Why don't you go post "In Soviet Russia, mass coronas eject YOU!"
Will that wipe your tears away?
"Of course you didn't want to use it, that's why you're going on and on about it."
;)
Wrong. Try again.
"Will that wipe your tears away?"
Heh. Was that the 'verbal beating' you were threatening me with?
"Derp de derp."
Yet another overrated mod. Thus another nail in the coffin of your "You're just jealous you didn't post it first!" rationale. Heh.
"Derp de derp."
That was compassion; I really sensed you were disappointed by not being able to use that joke before I got to it.
Oh, sour grapes my friend! You poor bastard...so bitter over a little bad timing. You'll get to use that joke soon, just keep your chin up!
Too bad your senses need some tuning.
So, I'll ask again: "Why would I respond to your joke with over used out dated slang expressions? What could I possibly be saying about your post?"
When ya finally work this out, you'll earn fewer redundant mods. Heh.
"Derp de derp."
"You poor bastard...so bitter over a little bad timing."
Heh. Not bitter, not bad timing. So what's the matter, afraid to guess? Afraid to admit that you're wrong?
"Derp de derp."
I don't think you have any newer expressions you could have used. You are so worked up over not getting to use that ancient joke I used, I can only assume you treasure those oldies like little diamonds of wisdom.
I don't think I've ever seen a grown man cry over such a small matter as this. You are a grown man, aren't you?
" that ancient joke I used"
A baby-step closer! C'mon.. you can work it out!
"I don't think I've ever seen a grown man cry over such a small matter as this. You are a grown man, aren't you?"
This is a verbal beating? Heh. "You're crying! Take that!" Like a poor marksman, you keep... missssssing... the... target.
"Derp de derp."
Not at all, I just don't want to hurt your feelings any more than I already have!
A baby-step closer! C'mon.. you can work it out!
I already have worked it out, you're crying because I used your favorite joke.
This is a verbal beating? Heh. "You're crying! Take that!" Like a poor marksman, you keep... missssssing... the... target.
What a resounding counter-attack! How will I ever gain the upper-hand against someone who declares that I'm completely missing the target. It's a bullet-proof plan for Slashdot thread dominance!
Truly, you have a dizzying intellect.
What? We only have enough escape pods for 6 people? Well, the other 5-point-something billion people will just have to hold their breaths.
I like to place meaningful quotes in my sig, so people will know that I know what meaningful quotes are.
"I already have worked it out, you're crying because I used your favorite joke."
Wrong!
" How will I ever gain the upper-hand against someone who declares that I'm completely missing the target."
You could start by not missing the target and figure out what really caused me to respond!
"Truly, you have a dizzying intellect."
I think that says more about you than it does me.
"Derp de derp."
"I already have worked it out, you're crying because I used your favorite joke."
Wrong!
Oh, I'm pretty sure I'm right.
"How will I ever gain the upper-hand against someone who declares that I'm completely missing the target."
You could start by not missing the target and figure out what really caused me to respond!
Oh my god, that was your best comeback ever.
"Truly, you have a dizzying intellect."
I think that says more about you than it does me.
I wonder how many people are snickering at your reply to that. I know I am.
"Oh, I'm pretty sure I'm right."
;)
Too bad you're not. Need more hints?
"Derp de derp."
You got your ass kicked, dumb fuck.
YHBBT. YHBL. HAND.
Why on earth are you reading this thread at all!? Change your settings so you're not reading every post made. /. will hide articles that get modded down or that aren't modded up past a certain level when the post count gets too high.
You must be referring to NanoTater; he hasn't gotten in a single good shot yet.
Too bad you're not. Need more hints? ;)
Another classic zinger: "Too bad you're not."
Since we're going to banter at that level, here's one that should warp your brain:
"Too bad I am!"
"Another classic zinger: "Too bad you're not.""
Nice try. You still haven't answered my question. Dodge dodge dodge, spin spin SPIN! Heh.
"Derp de derp."
I did already answer your question. I realize you're trying to put forth an alternative version of the truth, but that doesn't change it: you are angry that I used the joke you wanted to use.
Remeber the film "Breakdance II - Electric Boogaloo" ? - That's the kind of martial arts I practice.
I am referring to you. A couple of my coworkers are laughing at you now, too. You haven't gotten that other retard to show the slightest bit of annoyance, but you sure have put a lot of energy into trying.
Radical! That joke was fresh! You're so hip.
Yuor so ghey
"I realize you're trying to put forth an alternative version of the truth..."
Nice try. Dodge dodge dodge, spin spin spin! Chicken.
"Derp de derp."
It's all in the plan... Bush starts wars, get's everyone scared of everything that doesn't happen, gets laws passed to remove rights granted to us decades and even centuries ago, pushes for the "one world government" with the FTA...
Coronal Mass Ejections, Supervolcanoes (Yellowstone National Park is largest known and 40k years overdue), MegaTsunamis (launched from an island off Africa, will wipe out Miami to NY), all the close-fly-bys of asteroids (several well within the moon's distance from the earth in the last few years), etc.
Armageddon.
(and I'm not religious!)
BOTH of you are manham loving, choad-choking limp wristed faggot DORKS.
pick a mall bathroom, take turns buggering each other and LEAVE SLASHDOT OUT OF IT!
You don't think so? He seems really annoyed to me.
Nice try. Dodge dodge dodge, spin spin spin! Chicken.
So is chicken now the best insult you could think of? Oh, that's right, "radical" and "fresh" are scorching sarcasms to you. Do you have any more like that?
Let's hope it knocks out the powergrid to the Eastern Seaboard, so we can have a week off work, while they restart the generating stations... like they had to after Ohio First Energy fumbled the branches.
Heh. Gotcha cornered. Squirm!
"Derp de derp."
Excuse me? Time to take your pill, Napoleon.
You wandered into a corner, man. Can't blame me because you couldn't take a little ribbing for overusing a stale joke. Since you've cut off all the avenues that would reveal your own participation in this silly little squabble, you can't do anything else but try to 'verbally beat' me. Heh. Squirm, bitch.
"Derp de derp."
My corner is in your mind. You've done nothing but beg me repeatedly to answer some irrelevant question which was apparently of the utmost importance to you, then declare that I've wandered into a corner.
Is this a new form of the Chewbacca Defense?
You really should hook up with that one Anonymous Coward who used the term "manham." I have no doubt you could actually offend someone under their tutelage.
Yeah yeah. Nice try. Overlords... Chewbacca defense.. Yep, you're really of that uber-witty type that needs to defend their rehashes to the hilt. ;)
"Derp de derp."
I had to laugh at this thread. Too bad I can't mod them all up and down simultaneously as "Funny Flamebait"
Human being (n.): A genetically human, genetically distinct, functioning organism.
You clearly don't know the difference between an old joke, and a joke that derives the vast majority of its humor simply from being old. Your ignorance is no surprise, however, given that your display of bantering skills here consisted entirely of repeatedly asking me the same question over and over, then declaring yourself the winner because I had talked myself into a corner.
I wouldn't say you should go get a degree in funny, because obviously you could never earn a living at it, but it wouldn't hurt you to take a few night classes.
You are, however, an excellent straight man out of the box.
"You clearly don't know the difference between an old joke, and a joke that derives the vast majority of its humor simply from being old."
You'd have a point if your 'joke' wasn't sitting at 0, Redundant right now. Heh.
" however, given that your display of bantering skills "
Ah yes, a critique of my bantering skills followed by "you should go get a funny degree"... Heheh. Take that, Bob Saget!
"Derp de derp."
Lots of posts got modded down, primarily for simply mucking up the article with a huge thread full of dumb.
By the way, do you get points for adding "Heh" to everything, even when you didn't say anything funny? I know there's no small number of people in the world too stupid to see past that, but you seem addicted to the tactic. Does it really work that well? Let me try it just once. I haven't done this before, so forgive me if this doesn't sound perfect, but I'm going to attempt to apply your technique to this thread.
Ah ha! So you admit you were asking a question over and over and then you called me Bob Saget. That proves you are gay. Heh.
"Lots of posts got modded down, primarily for simply mucking up the article with a huge thread full of dumb."
;)
Don't kid yourself man, your post was modded down because it's a horribly overused stale joke. Heh. I admire your passion over this joke.
Funny really, you're still squirming. "You said heh! You're gay! Uh... I'm running out of stuff.. oh wait, you called me Bob Saget! Maybe I can find something that'll piss him off so I can tie the score!!!!"
P.s. you missed the point of my Bob Saget comment.
"Derp de derp."
Hi Nano: It's TFR! I would like to contirbute the following to this conversation: So, what do you think of that sunspot? It's a natural sun-dwelling alien blocking out the sun, of course.
Ha! hey man! :)
Nar, it's the Russians trying to change the weather.
"Derp de derp."
no yuo
Your definition of "squirming" must be equivalent to "coming up with endless funny rips on NanoTater, who can come up with no better comebacks than 'yeah, you're a big fat argument loser'". I'm squirming bad here, tater, real bad.
Come up with something original and offensive, I beg you. This thread would be so much more interesting if you could just come up with something worth reading. I'm literally getting bored out of my skull. Or is that your big plan? To bore me into submission?
I think it's working.
"Come up with something original and offensive, I beg you."
Heh, you first. I'm still waiting for my verbal beating here. The closest you got was "You need to get a funny degree."
"Or is that your big plan? To bore me into submission?"
Keep squirmin, bitch!
"Derp de derp."
Wow. So with you it's simply repetition, is it? Boredom really is your primary weapon. Nothing original to come up with?
Don't complain about my lack of originality if you can't do it yourself. You are the one with the bruised ego, not I.
"Derp de derp."
Floppy disks are a fairly convenient way to look at the sun. In my experience it usually looks like a dim red LED. (Assuming that you remember to slide the metal guard first!)
Chika Chik-ah... do-e ow ow.
People always accuse others to cover their own faults; I think you're the one with the bruised ego. The only thing bruised on me are my fingers from typing out so many slams on you. I wonder, though, if there's any harm in having so much direct contact with your dumb self.
"People always accuse others to cover their own faults; I think you're the one with the bruised ego."
First ya dug the hole... then you fell into it. Dumb ass, heh.
"he only thing bruised on me are my fingers from typing out so many slams on you."
Those were slams?! "your dumb self" is a slam? "get a funny degree" is a slam? Heh. You actually bruised your fingers typing those clever rebuttals? How mad did I make you to type so hard?
"Derp de derp."
First ya dug the hole... then you fell into it. Dumb ass, heh.
Oh, I see...you got mad that you lost out on the "leader" joke, so you start copying my "dumbass" quip. How sour can you be?
Besides, it was clearly your hole, I just called it.
Those were slams?! "your dumb self" is a slam? "get a funny degree" is a slam? Heh. You actually bruised your fingers typing those clever rebuttals? How mad did I make you to type so hard?
One of many, and far, far more original and funny than anything you've posted.
I do hope that's because you haven't tried to, though, because if this is the fruit of your efforts, that would be far sadder than anything else revealed here yet.
"Oh, I see...you got mad that you lost out on the "leader" joke, so you start copying my "dumbass" quip. How sour can you be?"
;)
Not sour, amused. You could actually have scored a point on that one, except it was a self destructive insult. Heh. BTW, you don't own 'dumb ass', dumb ass.
"One of many, and far, far more original and funny than anything you've posted."
So? I have made no boast about superior originality. I never promised you a verbal beating. You're the one that overpromised and underdelivered, and now you're busy trying like mad to make something stick to me. Keep squirming, bitch.
"Derp de derp."
So? I have made no boast about superior originality. I never promised you a verbal beating. You're the one that overpromised and underdelivered, and now you're busy trying like mad to make something stick to me. Keep squirming, bitch. ;)
There's a reason you haven't claimed superior originality: it's something you're incapable of. Your only real demonstrated talent is pretending to win flamewars you clearly lost a long time ago. You're very good at that.
"Your only real demonstrated talent is pretending to win flamewars you clearly lost a long time ago. You're very good at that."
;)
If I were only pretending, you wouldn't be the one in the defensive position throwing whatever you call an insult back at me at every step. Think about that and how you look.
"Derp de derp."
If I were only pretending, you wouldn't be the one in the defensive position throwing whatever you call an insult back at me at every step. Think about that and how you look. ;)
What do you call an insult? How about an example? Without anything to compare my insults to, I look like the guy who just ran you down.
What will it be this time? Some real action, or just another declaration of victory?
Just a wild guess: another declaration of victory.
Predictable as always, heh. Now I see why you depend on me to be the original one. Heh. Setting little traps here and there hoping I'll fall for one of them and give you what you need to try to even the score. Until I respond, the only weapon you have is denial of your own defeat.
"Derp de derp."
So respond, then. You can dish it out, but you can't take it? LOL Are you afraid your insults would look worse than mine and I'd have better things to rip you up with than you had with me? Afraid to try and measure up? Hahaha...no doubt you won't respond that way, you would get torn to shreds.
What a coward. Go back to playing with the children, you clearly can't hack it with the big boys. ROFL
Dumbass.
Hehe. Nice try. Keep sIIIIIIIiiiiii.....nking.
"Derp de derp."
ROFL You're the only one slinking around. I'm here, dead-center, bantering with you openly, hoping you'll take some real shots, but you never do. You just keep declaring yourself the victor and repeating the same garbage over and over, as if somehow that automagically grants you a victory.
You have nothing LOL...totally incapable of doing anything but repeating, declaring...boring LOL
Have you got any game at all? No? No? Hehe, I didn't think so, biatch.
Now you're trying to appeal to my machoism? Wow, you've reached a new level of desperation! Heh.
I musta really stung you to want a round 2 so bad. Pity you're not a good enough sport about losing.
"Derp de derp."
So that's it? More declaring yourself the victor and running away? Haha...I should have guessed. Oh wait, I DID guess that! What a 90-lb. weakling you turned out to be. Round 2...LOL...you haven't gotten up off the mat from round 1 yet haha.
Oh no! Here come more of your scathing insights! I'm getting pretty broken up over all this! You've really stung me!
ROFLMFAO
Oh my god, you are a complete retard if you think I feel anything but sheer joy over knocking around a complete asshole easily, freely without a single worthy comeback yet. I almost feel guilty, it's so easy!
90lb weakling? Retard? Asshole? ROFLMAO? That's 'knocking around'? Heh. Yeah, yeah.
"Derp de derp."
Yeah, yeah
That's it!? Yeah, yeah? My god, I am in AGONY you just ripped me up so bad with that!
You, my friend, are clearly a master flamewar tactician. I am imminently doomed. ROFL
It's funny. I have you so mad you're actually trying to convince me that you're really laughing that loud. Your poor keyboard....
"Derp de derp."
Now that IS funny! Kudos! Is this another example of you accusing me of something you suffer from yourself to call attention away from it? Who knows; surely you will claim that I have just done the same thing, so there's no way for me to tell.
I am being square with you on this: I've had nothing but a great time today with this. You bend right over and just keep taking it. Your own ridiculous repetitions are more than enough fodder to work with. It's been good fun, albeit a little easy.
Well, just a moment. I am mad about one thing. You never give me any really good rips. It's not fair that I have to do all the work. I wish you would carry your own weight and insult me, or at least try!
" Is this another example of you accusing me of something you suffer from yourself to call attention away from it?"
Heh. If that were really the case, don't you think I'd be, at minimum, just a teeny bit hostile towards you?
"I am being square with you on this: I've had nothing but a great time today with this. "
Liar. Every time I repeat something, you try to get worse with the insults. It is maddening to you that I just won't take the bait.
You're not fooling anyone man.
"Derp de derp."
Heh. If that were really the case, don't you think I'd be, at minimum, just a teeny bit hostile towards you?
Hmm!
Liar.
No, that's not hostile. ROFL
Just admit it, you're mad as a hornet and far too stupid to properly defend yourself here.
Nothin to admit. You haven't been able to get me to lose my cool once yet. You, on the other hand, are typing ROFLMAO and LOL and ROFL trying to make me think you're cackling like the Green Goblin or something. Please. If this were about humor instead of saving face, you would have pulled away about 20 hours ago. Heh.
"Derp de derp."
ROFL But I am laughing at you! You have taken more insults without a decent comeback more times than I can count, and you appear incapable, both in intellect and courage, to do so. It's definitely funny, tater, you're just desperately trying to make it seem like it's not funny. What a coward. LOL
"ROFL But I am laughing at you!"
Very forcefully, yes. You're not fooling anybody, man. Heh. You're not calling me names because I'm 'taking it', you're calling me names trying to get an angered response. Sorry, bud. You lost any credit you had right in the beginnning.
"Derp de derp."
I never said I wasn't trying to get a response from you, I said your lack of response has made insulting you a fun and easy experience. Don't get me wrong, I did want a response, because that's fun, but there's still a substantial sweet pleasure in making you my bitch. ...and you are definitely my bitch, you skeezy fatherfucker. LOLOL
"I never said I wasn't trying to get a response from you,"
;)
I never said you said that.
"Derp de derp."
That has nothing to do with anything, spongebrain.
Remember this?
you're calling me names trying to get an angered response
You said I was trying to get a response from you, so I said:
I never said I wasn't trying to get a response from you
Brain on, dumbass. ROFL
Ah, you caught me misreading one of your posts. Kudos! You had to fight really really hard for that one. Good job! :)
"Derp de derp."