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The Quietest Sun

Posted by kdawson on from the storms-a-comin' dept.

Orbity sends in a Boston Globe report on the unusual calm on the surface of the sun. The photos, many taken in more active solar times, are excellent — see the sequence from last year of a coronal mass ejection carrying away the tail of a comet. "The Sun is now in the quietest phase of its 11-year activity cycle, the solar minimum — 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. Scientists are unsure of the significance of this unusual calm..." As if to be contrary, New Scientist mentions that the number of sunspots seem to be increasing.

6 of 227 comments (clear)

  1. Taking pictures of the sun? by tsa · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Speaking of the sun, I recently bought a DSLR camera, and I would like to take pictures of the sun with it. Does anyone of you know how to go about that without destroying the camera's sensor or my eyes? What kind of filter do I need? Some people suggested a piece of glass that people use for welding; is that good enough?

    --

    -- Cheers!

    1. Re:Taking pictures of the sun? by resignator · · Score: 5, Interesting

      Baader makes a makes an AstroSolar Saftey Film that can be cut to any size.

      http://www.baader-planetarium.com/sofifolie/sofi_start_e.htm

      I have also seen some people use modified telescope filters (Calcium K-line).

      --
      "At first, we thought it was just another snake cult."
  2. If you want to know about solar activity... by Zixx · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Have a look at the SIDC. We count sunspots and get payed for it!

  3. Very convenient by Jeppe+Salvesen · · Score: 3, Interesting

    This will give us good readings on how the solar cycle affects this climate.

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    Stop the brainwash

  4. Pic # 8 by freddy_dreddy · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Could anyone tell me what the mechanism behind an accelerating wavefront is ? The caption creates the impression that this is physics for 12 year olds ...

    --
    "Violence is the last refuge of the competent, and, generally, the first refuge of the incompetent" - Thing_1
  5. Re:hmmmm. by dr_canak · · Score: 2, Interesting

    If you ever have a chance to look through one of these:

    http://www.coronadofilters.com/

    definitely do so. They are extremely expensive telescopes, so unless you're *really* into amateur astronomy and include solar observations as part of your hobby, then they are prohibitively expensive. With that said, these are the first set of telescopes I've looked through where the image at the eyepiece actually matches the pictures you see. In other words, the images at the eyepiece are very close to some of the photos you see linked in the slashdot article.

    Typically, folks look through a telescope and say "jesse, that's not what it looks like in pictures" and are dissappointed. The same is not true of these Coranado scopes. Check local astronomy clubs or larger stargazing events. Coronado often has a booth setup with a number of their products.

    I definitely don't work for the company, nor am I affiliated with them in any way. But if you're blown away by the photo's in the link, seeing it live through one of these scopes is even more amazing.

    jeff