Solar Cycle 24 – Solar Maximum Has Arrived
Our Sun has a magnetic cycle that spans approxamately 22 years from peak to peak. In the above image, the positive and negative polarity is presented in a black vs. white presentation. For about 11 years, the polarity of the sunspots in the northern hemisphere cross the Sun in a black/white/black/white fashion, while the spots in … Read more
Sea Ice Levels Begin to Increase, 09/19/2012
Data from the Naval Ice Center shows that the 2012 Minimum Ice Levels have been reached and we have begun to GAIN sea ice. After falling to the lowest levels seen in recorded history, between September 19 and September 26 sea ice has increased by 268,700 sq km. Though the ice will not be as … Read more
Geomagnetic Storm Strikes Earth- Expect Thunderstorms and Wild Weather Soon
Earth’s magnetosphere (simulation) from the NICT on 2011/11/22 A Geomagnetic storm is currently raging, causing our magnetosphere to, at first, compress, then expand as the shockwave pass our planet. this, as the solar activity is in a ‘lull’. Sunspot count is at 101 and flares have been all directed away from Earth. On … Read more
Blazar TXS 0529+075 May Have Kicked Off the Betelgeuse Supernova
Above: Orion. Alpha Orion, aka Betelgeuse, may have gone nova within the past 640 years. The following is found at the astronomerstelegram.org, posted 19 Nov 2011; 12:03 UT Quote: Swift observations of the flaring GeV blazar OG 050 (TXS 0529+075) Subjects: Optical, Ultra-Violet, X-ray, AGN, Blazar, Quasar Following the reported flaring activity of the flat spectrum radio … Read more
C/2010 X1 (a.k.a. “Elenin”) Has Broken Up and Will Not Reach Perihelion Intact
The following is from spaceweather.com, posted on August 29, 2011- “SO MUCH FOR DOOMSDAY: Comet Elenin (C/2010 X1), widely known for inaccurate reports of its threat to Earth, appears to be breaking apart. Observations by amateur astronomer Michael Mattiazzo of Castlemaine, Australia show a rapid dimming and elongation of the comet’s nucleus akin to that of Comet LINEAR … Read more
Sunspot Number Falls to 30, Climbs to 84
After the Sun’s dramatic fall to zero and subsequent climb to 90, a peak of 127 was seen on 7/19/2011. Eight days later, the count bottomed out at 30. Last night and this morning, the Sunspot number stands at 84. IF the pattern holds, we will see a return to low twenties in around … Read more
From The Astronomer’s Telegram: “New flaring activity in PKS 1510-089″
New flaring activity in PKS 1510-089 Subjects: Optical, Gamma Ray, >GeV, Request for Observations, AGN, Blazar, Quasar, Transient Following the bright flare in PKS 1510-089 reported by the AGILE and Fermi-LAT teams in ATel #3470 and Atel #3473 and reports on activities in the radio band (ATel #3500) the Automatic Telescope for Optical Monitoring (ATOM) recorded an increase … Read more
As Found on “The Astronomer’s Telegram”- Superoutburst of Cataclysmic Variable B8 in NGC 6791
Astronomical observations from around the globe are posted to “The Astronomer’s Telegram” (www.astronomerstelegram.org) to share information and to seek additional observations. For myself, I use it to find sources of the observed changes in our atmosphere and plausible causes for our climate change. Below, ATel #3507, posted 7/24/2011 Subjects: Optical, Cataclysmic Variable The Kepler Mission observed … Read more
Sunspot Count Falls to Zero… Then Skyrockets to 90.
On 7/15/2011 @ 0226 the Sunspot count stood at 90. At 0321 on 7/15/2011 it had dropped to 79. That number held through 0216 on 7-16-2011. The image above is the most recent observation posted on the SDO site. By my count the Sunspot number is between 10 and 12. At 0432 on 7/16/2011, the … Read more
CME was weak, but sparks thunderstorms coast to coast
Sunspot count= 62 @ 0429. Dropped from 72 yesterday. If the pattern holds, should be on its way down to a bottom of 30 in the next 6 days. Planetary Kp= Max 3 last 24 hrs In the middle of a magnetic storm according to NICT Sim- Large volume of earthquakes from South Pacific through … Read more
