Do we take our Sun for granted?
July 29th 2007 06:26
In my previous bloggs I wrote about the stars planets and the universe in general.
This time I would like to write a little something about our star the sun.
We owe our very existence to the sun it gives us light, heat and energy, helps regulate our climates and in general beneficial to us as humans. I have a deep fascination with the sun and I pursue an interest in the scientific study of sun’s activities. The sun has a volatile construction capable of times of relatively quiet periods to times when the sun is a little more active and the Earth’s bares the brunt of its wrath. I have a keen interest in sunspot activity and the subsequent eleven years cycle the effect it has on my hobby of radio communication. I enjoy watching the southern Aurora when there are at their peak usually when at the peak of the eleven year sunspot cycle we are now at a lowest peek of sunspot activity where the Sun remains relatively quiet for the next few years. The sun’s activity can be predicted with relative certainty however every now and then it throws a tantrum and surprises us with a high bust of plasma and charged particles.
Even at solar minimum the sun boils of” steam” with what is called a Coronal Mass Ejections, or C.M.E which produces extremely high levels of harmful radiation especially at high altitude mostly affecting astronauts in space.
A CME is a gigantic solar "punch" directed at our Earth. It begins when the Sun launches a thousand million tons of electrically conducting gas (plasma) into space at millions of kilometers per hour.
A CME plasma ejection is laced with magnetic fields and when directed our way, smashes into Earth's magnetic field. Making our electronic communication equipment susceptible to damage. If the Earth’s magnetic fields have the correct orientation, they dump enormous energy levels into our existing magnetic field, causing magnetic storms. These storms can cause widespread blackouts by overloading power line equipment with extra electric current you can see images live form the sun delivered by the SOHO satellite orbiting the sun visit this website:
This time I would like to write a little something about our star the sun.
We owe our very existence to the sun it gives us light, heat and energy, helps regulate our climates and in general beneficial to us as humans. I have a deep fascination with the sun and I pursue an interest in the scientific study of sun’s activities. The sun has a volatile construction capable of times of relatively quiet periods to times when the sun is a little more active and the Earth’s bares the brunt of its wrath. I have a keen interest in sunspot activity and the subsequent eleven years cycle the effect it has on my hobby of radio communication. I enjoy watching the southern Aurora when there are at their peak usually when at the peak of the eleven year sunspot cycle we are now at a lowest peek of sunspot activity where the Sun remains relatively quiet for the next few years. The sun’s activity can be predicted with relative certainty however every now and then it throws a tantrum and surprises us with a high bust of plasma and charged particles.
A CME is a gigantic solar "punch" directed at our Earth. It begins when the Sun launches a thousand million tons of electrically conducting gas (plasma) into space at millions of kilometers per hour.
Our brightest Star
A CME plasma ejection is laced with magnetic fields and when directed our way, smashes into Earth's magnetic field. Making our electronic communication equipment susceptible to damage. If the Earth’s magnetic fields have the correct orientation, they dump enormous energy levels into our existing magnetic field, causing magnetic storms. These storms can cause widespread blackouts by overloading power line equipment with extra electric current you can see images live form the sun delivered by the SOHO satellite orbiting the sun visit this website:
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Comment by Damo
For the Sake of Argument
My Apologetics
Sign me up.
Comment by Lilla
Enviro Warrior
An Extra Ordinary Life
Dream Herald
I enjoyed this piece and share a keen interest in the sun and it's activity, although not in any professional capacity.
That picture of yours is amazing, I've never seen the sun like that before...
Those solar flares are amazing, as is the 11 year cycle. I dunno, but because the planet does not have an atmosphere like ours, (in human terms) I never tend to think of it as a "planet" that could have it's own cycles, like our seasons do here on earth.
The flares fascinate me and although I do not watch them directly (as an avid hobby), I do know when the sun is having a tantrum, because of my electrical (even mechanical) equipment and appliances... they either short out, or they just groan and complain to me that they are feeling,"Off." *chuckle*
Just off topic a bit CC, we really enjoyed a six-CD set about the sun, borrowed from our library and narrated by Sam Neil. I think it was called Space (?)...anyeeway... the prediction is for the sun to implode completey in about 99,000 years time... well that'd be about 98,998 years now.
The thrust of the whole thing was that, before it implodes, it will expand to such a huge mass, the earth will be fried to a crisp and eventually, it seems, we'd have to planet-hop to Mars, or some such place, to avoid it all (although I don't see the point if it explodes)?
It is interesting to me that once these predictions are found and made, it seems that a mindset upon humans can change events?
I'm with Damo, Sun Conservation?
Sign me up, too...
Lilla ...
Comment by CarlCan
Astroearth
Thank you for the comments.
Sun conservation yes definitely.
Regarding Sam Neil was it Hyperspace? great presentation.
There are a few theories regarding the sun's demise. The current prediction is about 2 billion years the inner planets including the Earth will be used as fuel by the Sun in quest to keep it "alive" a little longer.
The sun will eventually shrink and become a white dwarf or it could explode. We as humans will be long gone.... although no longer in corporeal form our atoms will live on in the universe It's not all doom and gloom :0)
-Cheers-
Comment by Kleonaptra
Kalikapsychosis
I found this fascinating! I adore blogs that explore subjects most people simply forget about. I have a keen interest in all the heavenly bodies.
I loved your last paragraph - my show horse, 'The Magnetic Storm'(or Magnus for short) was named so because on the day he was born 5 magnetic storms chased over the sun. It was big news. We were discussing what to name our few hours old baby when the radio reports started to come in. He certainly has been magnetic and he's often a storm!
Great read! Thanks for the topic!
Comment by KylieW
Celebrity Obsession
Wow that really is a fascinating post. I have a real fascination with stars and can watch the night sky for hours. But I don't really give the sun much thought! Silly me!
Great post. Loved the pic as well
Kylie
Comment by Chic Critique