Monster sunspot groups appear on the Sun!

Late in 2009 and early 2010, two very large sunspot groups popped up on the Sun. These two animations shows those groups as seen by the SOHO spacecraft. The first is in visible light, and the second in far ultraviolet which shows magnetic activity associated with the sunspots. Watch as the Sun rotates; you get a cool 3D effect.

Note that some data are missing, so the rotation isn't smooth. In the second animation a frame flashes up which says "CCD Bakeout" which is a standard cleaning process for the detector (heating it up to remove some pixel faults).

Blog post: http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2010/02/07/looks-like-the-sun-...

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• SOHO
• sun
• sunspots
• NASA
• space

[digitaljez]

Damn star hoarding all the gas! No wonder the prices at the pumps are so high.

[Bos187]

what the hell does "CCD Bakeout" mean?

(it says that between 0:36 - 0:37)

[colmyo]

Green sun...

[pogpog28]

@TheSpiritof1969 Yes i googled 153 and gave me Michael the Archangel & the Sun's Solstice, then i substract 1859 from 2012 and gave me 153. Where can i find fried egg rice plus sweet & sour king prawn? I really want to have those delicacies. =)

[TheSpiritof1969]

@pogpog28

I got the Sun Hing Chinese Takeaway @ 153 Essex Road London when I Googled.

I guess that is proof the world will end in 2012.

20 is egg fried rice and 12 is sweet and sour king prawn at the Sun Hing, that may be another hidden clue. Must nip out to the local chinky for some enlightenment.

[pogpog28]

@TheSpiritof1969 What's that??? hehehe..Sh*t? Thank God it doesn't begin with a letter R as in RETARD!..thanks mate! Oh one more thing, the Sun has also the code 153. Search on google. ^______^

[TheSpiritof1969]

@pogpog28

Your head is full of something .... begins with S

[pogpog28]

First destructive solar flare was recorded in 1859. Telegraph poles were on fire and telegraph network were down. After careful study, next event was already foreseen with 90% life wipe out but Scientists coded the actual date in Religious way to prevent people from panicking (late 19th century). Michael the Archangel was the key where he defeated Satan and save the Earth from burning in Hell. 2012 - 1859 = 153.

Search 153 that relates "Michael the Archangel" in Google. You'll be surprised.

[hakim0744]

@Bos187 read the description :D !

[EffinDre]

Now they just put out that  all teh sun spots are disappearing...and its at the point where..the only time they have seen the sun do this...was ...During the 17th centry... a little something that caused crops not to flourish.... causing...oh a little something called the black plague... Good news... Looks like we found the cycle of when the sun is at its colderst every few centuries....bad news.... another black plague?

[MrWasherDryer]

@sayyes2bull umad

[sayyes2bull]

@MrWasherDryer won't waste my time with a mr. washerdryer. '"'nuff said". haha!