Posted on 07/07/2009 2:29:50 PM PDT by Squidpup
ASTRONOMERS are claiming that Earth is witnessing the biggest and most powerful Sunspot ever seen and the sunspot is yet to peak in intensity.
A sunspot is a magnetic storm on the surface of the sun and the area of the spot is colder than the normal surface.
The normal surface is about 5000 degrees, the temperature of a sunspot is about 3000 degrees.
The size of a sunspot varies, ranging from the size of the moon to 65 times larger than the size of earth and lasts for about a month then fades away.
This newest sunspot is thought to be 60 to 80 times the size of Earth and has occurred on the side of the sun, which is in view of Australia.
Wappa Falls Observatory head astronomer Owen Bennedick describes the sunspot shape like the letter S and thinks it to be approximately 150,000 km long and 30,000 km wide.
“It's flares have not yet been measured,” Owen Bennedick said, “but it is like hundreds of thousands of hydrogen bombs.”
The flares have been so bright that NASA has had trouble taking accurate pictures of the sunspot.
Mr Bennedick said the sunspot is still growing in intensity but predicts it could climax by today.
The sunspot will cause the Earth's atmosphere to heat up, potentially creating problems to powerlines, radio transmitters and delicate equipment such as mobile phones and computers.
Mr Bennedick suggests powerline filters be installed on computers and people should put on extra sunscreen.
Sunspots appear on the sun in cycles, occurring every 11 years, the current cycle has four years until it reaches it peak.
The last sunspot happened two years ago and was the most powerful flare yet measuring x28.
Most sunspot flares measure around x12 which is still considered powerful.
The Sunspot two years ago was 45 times larger than the earth and lasted for 45 days.
Since that sunspot, no more had been seen until Sunday, this latest one considered the most powerful yet.
The Wappa Falls Observatory is in the process of installing a new 12 inch telescope which will allow a greater view of the sky.
The new telescope was bought in honour of Kerry Mounter who recently passed away.
Mr Mounter was an inspiration to all who worked at the Wappa Falls Observatory. The telescope will be dedicated to his memory.
“Crop circles, it turns out, are not a useful tool for forecasting solar activity”
I chuckled also
LOL! That is pretty funny. I only buzzed through the numbers and missed it. Thanks.
They where misinformed of the gravity of the situation by the previous Administration!
>>Taken within 50 miles of LA.
Pinos?
Dang.
You beat me to it. But you forgot that it's also Bush's fault..........
Probably just another imaginary “ghost spot” hyped from NASA as usual.
The other day I talked to the Virgin Islands on 29.600. S9 + 40 over. Lasted just over an hour.
Finally we have an actual sunspot that can be counted based on historical methods vs hysterical padding.
LOL - that was my take too.
Well, it certainly hasn't caused me any probl
Liberals still push global warming caused by humans - but they know in their little cold hearts that sunspots hold the key. The key to them being able to trick people for a few more years about warming - and boost Al Gore's scams.
Can I have the franchise for “the side of the sun, which is in view of Australia”.
The Big Bang?
Nope, taken from my backyard observatory.
thanks, bfl
Well, that goes without saying! ;o)
THX.
I’ve noticed lately that many science reporters are about as knowledgable about science as most political reporters are about politics. And about as accurate...
Sunspots appear on the sun in cycles, occurring every 11 years, the current cycle has four years until it reaches it peak. The last sunspot happened two years ago and was the most powerful flare yet measuring x28.
I really wonder if English was this writer's first language.
>>Nope, taken from my backyard observatory.
Nice! I have dark skies here about 200 miles north of LA, on the western edge of the San Joaquin Valley. We usually observe up around California Hot Springs, Mojave or Kennedy Meadows on new moon Saturday night.
We used to go to Pinos but it has become a madhouse.
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.