Invisible to our eyes, but is colorized here in gold. Magnetic field in extreme ultraviolet light, a type of light that is typically Charged particles spinning along theĮver-changing magnetic field lines above the active regions trace out the During solar minimum, such eruptions on the SunĪre increasingly rare, but history has shown that they can nonetheless beĭistinct solar active regions with towering arches rotated into SDO’s view TheĬurrent cycle began in December 2008 and is now decreasing in intensity, X9.3 – clocking in at the most powerful flare of the current solar cycle. Massive clouds of solar material and magnetic fields that erupt from the Sun at Solarįlares are powerful bursts of radiation, while coronal mass ejections are Releasing several powerful coronal mass ejections between Sept. Spate of solar activity, with the Sun emitting 31 notable flares and Only 14 percent of the Sun blocked by the Moon, while most US residents saw 60 Mean that SDO will see anything out of the ordinary. SDO actually sees severalĪ year from its perspective – but an eclipse on the ground doesn’t necessarily While millions of people in North America experienced a Satellites, producing several solar flares, a coronal mass ejection and a solar The Sun, the active region - dubbed AR12665 - put on a show for our Sun-watching Source of interesting solar activity: During its 13-day trip across the face of With their complex magnetic fields, sunspots are often the To track the region as it grew and eventually rotated across the Sun and On July 5, SDO watched an active region rotate into view on The dynamic regions were easily the most remarkableĪreas on the Sun during this 42-hour period. Into SDO’s view May 31 – June 2, while spouting off numerous small flares and 2014 – during the last solar maximum – and show a much spottier Sun.Īctive regions – areas of intense and complex magnetic fields – rotated For comparison, the images on the left are from Feb. This March 2017 period was the longest stretch of spotlessness since the last solar minimum in April 2010 – a sure sign that the solar cycle is marching on toward the next minimum, which scientists expect in 2019-2020. Solar minimum = less solar activity and fewer.Solar maximum = intense solar activity and more.Sunspots at any given time is used as an index of solar activity. Regions of complex magnetic activity on the Sun’s surface, and the number of Marked by two extremes: solar maximum and solar minimum. The Sun goes through a natural 11-year cycle of activity Saw the yolk-like spotless Sun in visible light. To celebrate another year of SDO, we’re sharing some of ourįavorite solar views that the spacecraft sent back to Earth in 2017. Still collecting data to this day - and one of our best ways to keep an eye on (also known as SDO) was originally designed for a two-year mission, but it’s It’s been in space for eight years, keeping an eye on the SunĪlmost every moment of every day. Did you know we’re watching the Sun 24/7 from space?įleet of satellites to monitor the Sun and its influences on the solar
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