There was an average of 215.5 daily sunspots on the sun's surface during August.
This time-lapse image shows every visible dark patch moving across the sun during this time.
(Image credit: SDO/Şenol Şanlı/Uğur İkizler)
Posted on 09/04/2024 10:56:28 AM PDT by BenLurkin
The number of black spots peppering the sun's surface in August was the highest for almost 23 years, new data shows. The latest sunspot count was more than twice as high as initial forecasts predicted and is another clear sign that the sun's explosive peak, or solar maximum, is likely well underway — and will be far more active than scientists initially thought.
Sunspots are regions of the sun's surface where surges of electromagnetic radiation break through the star's magnetic field, creating relatively cool patches that appear black to us thanks to an optical illusion. Along with the size and frequency of solar flares and coronal mass ejections, sunspot numbers indicate the progress of the sun's roughly 11-year solar cycle.
During the sun's least active phase, or solar minimum, there are very few or occasionally no sunspots. For example, in late 2019, shortly before the start of the current solar cycle (Solar Cycle 25), there were 40 consecutive days with no visible sunspots. But as the sun's magnetic field gets entangled with itself and weakens, sunspot numbers quickly climb before peaking during solar maximum. During this active phase, the sun's magnetic field eventually snaps and completely flips, which triggers a falling-off period of solar activity and a decrease in sunspots until the whole cycle restarts.
There was an average of 215.5 daily sunspots on the sun's surface during August.
This time-lapse image shows every visible dark patch moving across the sun during this time.
(Image credit: SDO/Şenol Şanlı/Uğur İkizler)
(Excerpt) Read more at livescience.com ...
They were.
Lack of them was supposed to be throwing us into the next ice age, IIRC.
They’re right about one thing: we’re all gonna die.
It’s $CIENCE, now.
Correct. The sunspots are particularly active because of systemic racism.
Climate change
If it rains it’s climate change
If it doesn’t it’s climate change
If it snows it’s climate change
If it doesn’t snow it’s climate change
If it’s hot it’s climate change
If it’s cold it’s climate change
If there are lots of hurricanes…. It’s climate change
If there are fewer hurricanes…..it’s climate change
And apparently
If there are more sunspots it’s climate change
If there are fewer sunspots its climate change
All can effectively be solved by throwing money at them
First question for globull warming types
What is normal climate for the earth?
Second
What caused ice ages to come and go
Many more but this is what I start with
maybe people should worry about the black spots on earth and the dangers they cause on civilization...
Oh I know :-) I've been an amateur astronomy bug since I was a little kid in the 50's. I just love getting other people all fired up. And that quote from Ghostbusters is legendary.
🙂👍
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.