Earth facing side of Sun without active sunspots

Earth facing side of Sun without active sunspots

The Earth facing side of the Sun is nearly blank today (with the exception of a few very small sunspots). This is yet another example of how weak this current Solar Cycle 24 really is in comparison to the previous cycles during the past 100 years. Hard to believe that

Solar cycle 24 on its way

Solar cycle 24 on its way

Science has only just begun to understand how cyclical changes in the Sun effect Earth’s weather and climate. But the more technological human society grows, the more vulnerable we may become.Activity on the Sun is due to reach its peak around early 2014, so expect

Geomagnetic storm in progress

Geomagnetic storm in progress

UPDATE: The Geomagnetic Storm has subsided over the past few hours. However, the solar wind remains energized and occasional pulses of activity are expected for another 24 hours. Region 1283, the responsible party back at the Sun, decayed today. The Geomagnetic Storm

Solar radio bursts

Solar radio bursts

This week's sharp increase in solar activity has turned the Sun into a radio transmitter. Bursts of shortwave static are coming from the unstable magnetic canopy of sunspot 1283. Yesterday in New Mexico, amateur radio astronomer Thomas Ashcraft recorded some…