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Solar Cycle 24 May Have Finally Begun

xyz writes "NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center reports that the number of sunspots in October for Solar Cycle 24 outnumbered Solar Cycle 23 for the first time, indicating the start of a new solar cycle. Solar activity was observed to be at a 50-year low, with no sunspots for 200 days this year."

45 of 72 comments (clear)

  1. so how does it affect our weather by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    so does this mean more incident solar radiation or less?

    1. Re:so how does it affect our weather by swordfishBob · · Score: 5, Informative

      It means significant bursts of solar radiation, but reductions in other extraterrestrial radiation as it gets "blown" away by the solar surges.

      --
      -- All your bass are below two Hz
    2. Re:so how does it affect our weather by OeLeWaPpErKe · · Score: 1

      it 'should' mean more.

  2. How much did FOX have to pay for this? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    This is clearly an advertising ploy for 24's return on November 23.

    1. Re:How much did FOX have to pay for this? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      He'll be traveling west throughout the day so that he can keep an eye on the Sun at all times.

      The Sun doesn't set on Jack Bauer, Jack Bauer sets on the Sun.

  3. Only cycle 24? by syousef · · Score: 3, Funny

    I observe solar cycles every day - the sun rises, then it sets. I'm pretty sure it's happened more than 24 times!!!

    (For those that need a clue bat, the above is a joke and I do know what a solar cycle is).

    --
    These posts express my own personal views, not those of my employer
    1. Re:Only cycle 24? by Ostracus · · Score: 4, Funny

      "(For those that need a clue bat, the above is a joke and I do know what a solar cycle is)."

      A solar-powered human on a bicycle.

      --
      Shai Schticks:"You don't make peace with friends, you make peace with enemies"
    2. Re:Only cycle 24? by VeNoM0619 · · Score: 1

      Solar Cycle 24 May Have Finally Begun

      In other news...
      Drinking water may cause cancer.
      Looking at the sun may cause blindness.

      This report brought to you by the Ministry of Uncertainty.

      --
      Disclaimer: I am not god.
      We may not be created equal
      But we can be treated equal.
  4. Thats right. Solar Cycle 24. by gandhi_2 · · Score: 3, Funny

    Is your software SC24-compliant?

  5. re:new sun cycle by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Barack Obama is already fixing things!

  6. Re:Spots by Ethanol-fueled · · Score: 1

    No, he's going easy on us, with global warming and all.

  7. 24? by emart · · Score: 1

    someone get jack bauer to beat the crap outta the sun.

    --
    "they didn't know it was impossible, so they did it!" - Mark Twain
  8. Effect on climate... by dtjohnson · · Score: 1, Insightful

    From the article: "There is also the matter of solar irradiance," adds Pesnell. "Researchers are now seeing the dimmest sun in their records. The change is small, just a fraction of a percent, but significant. Questions about effects on climate are natural if the sun continues to dim."

    Even with the new sunspots of cycle 24, the sun is becoming...dimmer. "Dim sun" is the new climate buzzword for 2009 to replace 'greenhouse effect.'

    1. Re:Effect on climate... by Robin47 · · Score: 1

      somebody fix the dimmer switch please.

    2. Re:Effect on climate... by Walkingshark · · Score: 4, Funny

      "Dim sun" is the new climate buzzword for 2009 to replace 'greenhouse effect.'

      I prefer Mongolian Beef myself.

      --
      The world you experience is only a close approximation of reality.
    3. Re:Effect on climate... by Roskolnikov · · Score: 1

      Dim sum sounds better.

      --
      Unix, an obscure operating system developed by bored researchers in an attempt to get a better game playing experience.
    4. Re:Effect on climate... by dtjohnson · · Score: 1

      So...I'm guessin that you don't have any questions about the effect of the sun on climate.

    5. Re:Effect on climate... by Progman3K · · Score: 1

      I thought Dim Sum referred to the bill they brought you at the end...

      --
      I don't know the meaning of the word 'don't' - J
  9. It's the economic crisis by Gabest · · Score: 2, Funny

    And the worst is yet to come. So they say. Expect even less sun spots next year.

  10. It is a very important issue to communication by gearloos · · Score: 5, Informative

    The sun works on an 11 year cycle. There is also other smaller cycles that run in this. One is a 28 day cycle. These are very important to long range (and short range) communication. Ham(amateur) radio is very influenced(as well as commercial) by this. I am not going to try and explain the whole thing here but try this link for anone that would like to learn more about the sloar flux index, k index, a index etc.. http://www.radio-electronics.com/info/propagation/ionospheric/radio-propagation-prediction-solar-indices.php

    --
    "Computers are a lot like Air Conditioners" "They both work great until you start opening Windows"
    1. Re:It is a very important issue to communication by Bemopolis · · Score: 5, Funny

      The sun works on an 11 year cycle. There is also other smaller cycles that run in this. One is a 28 day cycle. These are very important to long range (and short range) communication.

      I can name another 28-day cycle that affects communication. It largely results in a short-range information transfer that everything is my fault.

      --
      "I guess the moral of the story is, don't paint your airship with rocket fuel." -- Addison Bain
    2. Re:It is a very important issue to communication by drik00 · · Score: 2, Funny

      Holy shnikes! Women *do* post on /. ... always thought that was an urban legend.

      J

      --
      Beer, now there's a temporary solution -- Homer Jay S.
    3. Re:It is a very important issue to communication by vhfer · · Score: 1

      Woohoo! Six meters here I come. 73 de N9QQB

  11. Re:new sun cycle by aliquis · · Score: 1

    Clearly no representation of black people by eliminating all the dark spots of the sun was racist.

    I for one welcome our pimpled sun overlord.

  12. Re:new sun cycle by gearloos · · Score: 3, Funny

    actually, you idiot, the black spots ARE the sun spots. So... if anything he would be starting to bring in NEW black spots. Jesus, if your gonna be a racist, at least be an informed racist.

    --
    "Computers are a lot like Air Conditioners" "They both work great until you start opening Windows"
  13. Solar Cycle by rossdee · · Score: 1

    Obviously there are practical problems in mounting an array of PV cells on a bicycle, but a tricycle would be better.

    However I think that a better idea would be batteries powering the vehicle, andstations where you park them, with PV cells on the roof.

  14. At last, bring on the sun spots. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    As a sysadmin this sun spot drought has been crippling us. Without the sun spot excuse we have been forced to actually admit that things are broken and get off our arse and fix them.

  15. Re:new sun cycle by aliquis · · Score: 1

    I wonder who is the idiot when the sun have had zero spots for 200 days ...

  16. Re:Not funny by hachi-control · · Score: 1

    You misunderstand, that's what makes it funny.

  17. Phew! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    For a moment I was worried the sun is pregnant!

    1. Re:Phew! by metamechanical · · Score: 1

      That would be HOT! (thank you, thank you, I'll be here all week)

      --
      If I had a nickel for every time I had a nickel, I'd be richcursive!
  18. All over? Or just in spots? by fotoguzzi · · Score: 1

    Can we detect or estimate the number of sunspots on the far side of the sun?

    --
    Their they're doing there hair.
    1. Re:All over? Or just in spots? by cnettel · · Score: 3, Interesting

      The sun rotates, although with quit different speeds at the equator and the poles. For a period of 200 days, we will also get to see most of it (independently of the rotation). Unless one poses there is something very different about the side facing the Earth, no matter what "side" that is, the tendency should be quite clear. (I also think there are some space-based probes that are relevant here, but I am not sure whether any of them images the full "opposite side" of the sun regularly.)

    2. Re:All over? Or just in spots? by teridon · · Score: 1

      The MDI instrument on SOHO can image the far side of the sun using helioseismology. See
      http://soi.stanford.edu/press/farside_Feb2006/web/

      --
      I hold it, that a little rebellion, now and then, is a good thing. -- Thomas Jefferson
    3. Re:All over? Or just in spots? by Software+Geek · · Score: 2, Informative

      The sun rotates every 25-36 days.
      The different rotation rates of different parts is what causes sunspots.
      http://www.windows.ucar.edu/tour/link=/sun/Solar_interior/Sun_layers/differential_rotation.html

  19. Coincidence? I think not. by chord.wav · · Score: 1

    This is obviously another Fox marketing stunt for the new 24 season.

  20. Re:Not funny by loafula · · Score: 1

    No, no, no, no, no! That's what made it funny. It's not funny any more, at least not until it becomes funny again.

    --
    FOXTROT UNIFORM CHARLIE KILO
  21. Not trying to launch a global warming debate but by Progman3K · · Score: 1

    During the past year, the arctic ice stopped receding and the layers of ice that usually form when winter arrives in the northern hemisphere were early. Consequently, global-warming debunkers were pointing at this as proof that global warming is not real.

    My contention is that the solar-minimum caused the trend-reversal.

    It will be interesting to see how the polar ice-caps and ice-sheets will fare during the next year, now that the sun has resumed (hopefully) its normal cycle.

    --
    I don't know the meaning of the word 'don't' - J
  22. Re:new sun cycle by MBGMorden · · Score: 1

    In all seriousness, I did overhear a group of guys at the service station pointing to the falling gas prices as an immediate example of the great things Obama is already doing for our country.

    --
    "People who think they know everything are very annoying to those of us who do."-Mark Twain
  23. Yes, but.... by DesScorp · · Score: 1

    Barack Obama is already fixing things!

    That's not the sun in the sky. That is Barack Obama, shining down warmth, love, and hope upon us.

    --
    Life is hard, and the world is cruel
  24. Re:Spots by rugatero · · Score: 2, Funny

    It's is "it is".

    Bravo to whoever modded this 'Redundant'.

    --
    This comment is for entertainment purposes only. Any similarity to real insight or information is purely coincidental.
  25. Clearing up the uncertainty by Mister_Stoopid · · Score: 2, Funny

    >Drinking water may cause cancer.
    >Looking at the sun may cause blindness.

    Well, my research indicates that nearly 100% of cancer victims were water drinkers, while only a statistically insignificant percentage of visually challenged individuals admit to staring into the sun. So there you have it, drinking water does cause cancer, and looking at the sun does not cause blindness.

  26. Sun Spots and Space Weather by NotNormallyNormal · · Score: 1

    This is a bit of a relief for those of us who study space weather and aurora and what not. It is hard to study things when they don't appear... There has been very little aurora or interesting weather in the last couple of years. Of course, studying the quiet time is important too... just not as interesting! Check out NOAA Space Weather for more information on space weather in the current solar conditions.

  27. Re:Satirical Humor by duckInferno · · Score: 1

    Could be that. Could also be the whole not-funny thing that put them off.

    --
    Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, watch it -- I'm huge!
  28. 20m by Nethead · · Score: 1

    I've noticed 20m (14MHz) has been fairly open the last few weeks. I have made contacts in Japan four times in the last week or so from my mobile HF rig (FT-857 and ATAS-120 on a small pick-up truck.)

    CQ DX, CQ DX, CQ DX de W7COM

    73

    --
    -- I have a private email server in my basement.