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Solar Cycle 24 Has Started

Posted by Soulskill on from the tell-me-where-the-flare-is dept.

radioweather writes "Solar physicists have been waiting for the appearance of a reversed-polarity sunspot to signal the start of the next solar cycle. As of Friday, that wait is over. A magnetically reversed, high-latitude sunspot emerged on the surface of the sun. Just a few months ago, an 'All Quiet Alert' had been issued for the sun. This reversed-polarity sunspot marks the beginning of the sun's return back to Solar Maximum. Solar Cycle 24 has been the subject of much speculation due to competing forecasts on whether it will be a highly active or a quiet low cycle. If it is a low cycle, it may very well be a test of validity for some CO2 based global warming theories. Only time will tell."

6 of 258 comments (clear)

  1. I for one by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    welcome our reversed polarity solar overlords

  2. Too many links by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    I cant find TFA >.

  3. AGW? WTF does THAT mean? by cryophan · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    try writing the intro a bit better, spaz...

    --
    Homo Sapiens Americanus--A documentary in p
  4. HAM TLA by grumling · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    QRP WAS at the QTH!

    --
    "Well, good luck finding a judge that doesn't run a bestiality site."
  5. The "Ham Radio New Year" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    Thank God the hams checked in. I thought all hope was lost here, turning yet another topic with at least some hope of being centered around DIY techie hobbies into just another stream of political BS. I may have set the min too high, but I was surprised Intelligent Design didn't make it in here somewhere. All the other crackpots sure came out on this lovely Sunday morning.

    ANYWAY, after 14 years as a Technician (formerly "No Code Tech") class operator, I finally passed my General about a month ago so that I can actually get on the air when the prop returns. I didn't think 11 years would really feel that long, yet pass by so quickly. I'm ready to get on board for this one, and I hope my first is going to be a good one. I've had a 10m rig for 10 years that I was planning to convert into a 2m IF rig for microwave work, but then AO-40 died and its tough to find microwave sigs on the birds anymore. Now I'll be able to use it straight up. I've also been SWLing PSK and SSTV for years now, and will probably buy or build a K2 or K3 and the Small Wonder PSK20 in time for the summer. I'm a condo dweller and my options are severely limited, unfortunately, but I hope to do something interesting with the few options available to me. This antenna - http://degood.org/coaxtrap/ - interests me as my 4th-floor attic centerline almost perfectly runs north-south and I'm near Central NJ. Good shots to the west and Europe - not so much to the retirees in Florida, though. If I can work Europe on 2 watts PSK31, I will be very excited.

  6. Re:Impossible by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    5:40 into the video: Step aside Glen, you got a error 43 replace toner cartridge.
    Ooh my, looks like the magenta.
    Damn, this is gonna hurt...
    Hurry now, hurry, take that there sexual harassment manual *urgh!* and hit me in my groin.
    Glen: You're, you're sure about this?
    Hurry now!
    Glen: Alright
    Don't stop, don't stop! Now flog my ass.
    Glen: Come, no now you're *phone ring* with me
    ...
    See if that sumbitch will fax now.
    Glen: It never was able to fax, it's a coffee maker.
    You dumbass you can't fax coffee, coffee don't fax worth a damn. Everytime the rain hits it it'd run. Damn, you a dumb sumbitch.

    New season in 2 weeks!!