Solar Cycle 24 [2011] How It Works How It Affects Us [HD]

The sun was in deep slumber known as solar minimum but now it has stirred and woken where there will be plenty of solar activities along with immense aurora displays also known as solar maximum. This is the solar cycle 24, so known because the sun goes through a 22 to 24 years cycle of solar minimum and solar maximum.

An X1.9 Flare at 2011 Nov 03 2027 UT!
Active region AR11339 let go an X1.9 flare 2011 Nov 03 2027 UT. This large and complex active region just rotated onto the disk and we will watch it for the next 10 days.

Long Distance Connection
The magnetic field lines of two active regions on the Sun gradually reached across about one-third of the Sun and connected with each other over a little more than one day (Oct. 6-7, 2011). Active regions are magnetically intense areas that emerge from beneath the Sun's surface. The tenuous tendrils of the field lines became visible as the two active regions, not quite in sight of the spacecraft, began to rotate around, giving SDO had a good profile view of the wispy connection process. While long distance connections have been observed before, they are rarely so long reaching or so clearly defined. This observation does help underscore the interconnections of certain features of the Sun.

Stacked Loops: Three Flavors
Three active regions lined up vertically and each of the loop structures above them twisted differently when viewed in extreme ultraviolet light (Oct. 15 - 17, 2011). The high arching loops of the top active region seemed to lean to the north; the one beneath it clearly coiled to the south; at the bottom, one spread mostly upright and to the left and right as well. The loops are tracing particles spiraling along magnetic field lines that have emerged from underneath the Sun's surface. While the movie shows that the loops shifted and changed over 2.5 days, the basic structure of all three remained very much the same. It is not common to see active regions so neatly aligned atop one another.
The sun is active now and we will see many more CME's solar flares and solar storms. We are not in any danger but we do need to be prudent when NOAA sends out a solar activity warning to safeguard our technological instruments. Pilots will be warned to change their flight path, the astronauts on the ISS will also take precautions and so will electric power companies to safe guard their power grids and cell towers.

Enjoy the beauty the sun brings, whether it be sunrise or sunset and of course the breath taking auroras in our skies.
Music
Batman Begins
Nycteris
Like a dog chasing cars
Hans Zimmer