the sun awakes..

[nytecam]

from the longest solar minimum in living memory - two sunspot groups on the disk today and magnificent prominences in the north limb and south limb too

[tameblackbirds]

Fantastic images.

Does this hold any significance to our little planet nytecam? Heard on radio, a while ago, that they expected a lot of solar disturbance this year. Just at the time of the Olympics and the effect it could have on satellites and transmissions

[nytecam]

Originally Posted by tameblackbirds

Fantastic images.

Does this hold any significance to our little planet nytecam? Heard on radio, a while ago, that they expected a lot of solar disturbance this year. Just at the time of the Olympics and the effect it could have on satellites and transmissions

Not really - the sun is waking up on its 11yr cycle. Predicting the influence of the sun on earth long term is as unpredictable as next week's weather and we know the Met Office have dumped that option for 'others' to just guess The only difference is that a solar flare/ exposion on its surface take about 24-48 hrs to reach earth IF aimed in our direction so some warning to protect vital communications. Discarding modern electronics/satellites a solar flare would pass unnoticed as it did pre 1850s before instruments were invented to observe some of the solar events.

[nytecam]

This is sun related so posted here Took this pic this morning @ 8AM that shows how the slight curvatures in my neighbour's bedroom windowpane projects multiple images of the sun onto his garage wall so that the window glass forms a very crude solar telescope. This happens each year in the week near the spring or autumn equinox when the sun is in a precise location in the sky at sun-up.

The ratio of image diameter to distance to the window itself [for the sun] is ~1:110 so the window is ~ 8"x110 away = ~73ft eg the 'telescope' has a focal length of ~73ft

There's lots of little bits of astronomy in everyday things

[nytecam]

Here's the video clip - heres the video clip YouTube - tom-sun.wmv

[nytecam]

Missed the most MASSIVE prominence on the edge of the sun today 'cos we've got the builders in but got the tailend with remaining detached prom below - the one earlier this morning would have FILLED the whole frame between the two remaining proms

[Rich_]

This will explain why my shortwave radio has been picking up nothing but static noise for the last week or so perhaps?