'Quiet Sun' baffling astronomers

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Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2009 8:40 am

Quote:

The Sun is the dimmest it has been for nearly a century.

There are no sunspots, very few solar flares - and our nearest star is the quietest it has been for a very long time.

The observations are baffling astronomers, who are due to study new pictures of the Sun, taken from space, at the UK National Astronomy Meeting.

The Sun normally undergoes an 11-year cycle of activity. At its peak, it has a tumultuous boiling atmosphere that spits out flares and planet-sized chunks of super-hot gas. This is followed by a calmer period.

Last year, it was expected that it would have been hotting up after a quiet spell. But instead it hit a 50-year year low in solar wind pressure, a 55-year low in radio emissions, and a 100-year low in sunspot activity.

BBC LINKY

This must be concerning the radio amateurs amongst you, as sunspot activity makes the bouncy layer (technical term) that makes the radio waves rattle around the planet.

If the sun is dimmer, can I stop worrying about my car killing off the baby whales now?

Baiting Guru Joined: 19 Mar 2007 Posts: 2628

Sun activity is cyclic, it's having a wee rest the now.
I'm not going to argue with huge ball of fire if it wants a kip.

I believe the next huge peak of activity is due in 2012.

Now that date makes me nervous if you believe in the predictions of doom.
Mind in the 80s, I think it was, when huge solar storms knocked out power grids. I suppose its possible it could knock out satellites and communications then where will we be?

Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2009 9:18 am

There was an article on radio this morning about the declining number of bees. It's a very serious problem and no one knows the reason. It's so bad, that in some countries (like China for instance) thousands of farmers have to manually pollinate plants to get them to fruit.
The UK government have just put up a sizable amount of cash to investigate the problem. Chemicals and pesticides thought the most likely culprit.

They switched to this story straight after and no one made any connection between the two events. Sun spot activity ebbs and flows all the time and are thought to have caused mini ice ages in the past. I wonder if the bee thing has happened before now and could be an early signal of falling overall temperatures?

Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2009 9:31 am

windypops wrote:

thousands of farmers have to manually pollinate plants to get them to fruit.

Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2009 9:34 am

Honestly, some of you peeps have a one track mind. Rolling Eyes

They do it with feather dusters. (While dressed up in a French maid's outfit). Very Happy

Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2009 9:51 am

Nanny Ogg wrote:

I believe the next huge peak of activity is due in 2012.

Now that date makes me nervous if you believe in the predictions of doom.

This guy has a lot to answer for:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Arg%C3%BCelles

He's near enough single-handedly responsible for all the crap you read about 2012.

Trophy Videos · Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2009 11:35 pm

Repent lads, for the end is near!
And please consider a donation to the Save Our Sun Foundation...
Would you be interested in opening a chapter in your country?

Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2009 11:59 pm

The sun is dimmer? Really? Then why was it 98 and 99 degrees here the past few days? It's April, fer cryin' out loud - spring, not summer!

419Eater Admin Joined: 30 Sep 2003 Posts: 7469

On the subject of Astronomy; did anyone see this interesting article:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/8007844.stm

Baiting Guru Joined: 03 Mar 2006 Posts: 7103 Location: Yes

Those are some scary looking pixels... Wink

Posted: Thu Apr 23, 2009 12:30 pm

Quote:

the blob was some 12.9 billion light years away.

I'm worried now. Shocked

*** BANNED *** Joined: 18 Jul 2004 Posts: 2049

SlapHappy wrote:

Repent lads, for the end is near!
And please consider a donation to the Save Our Sun Foundation...
Would you be interested in opening a chapter in your country?

Not to worry - the Nigerian Space Agency is ahead of the curve on this and is investigating the problem. They have figured out how to land on the sun with special equipment.

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They are going to land at night Wink

Baiting Guru Joined: 19 Mar 2007 Posts: 2628

^^ Boom Boom

Has someone sent lads on a very long safari?

Posted: Thu Apr 23, 2009 4:15 pm

Do we have a siggy icon for sending a lad into orbit?

Baiting Guru Joined: 19 Mar 2007 Posts: 2628

^ a wee rocket would be nice, or a firework?

By the way it's official,
I showed that picture to an amateur astronomer and he says he is baffled, maybe I should have let him put on his reading glasses Rolling Eyes

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