Sunspots, Solar Cycle 24, EIT, 2009
Imagesfrom the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) spacecraft shows sunspots on the Sun's surface and ultraviolet light radiating from the solar atmosphere at the current solar minimum (2009). The sunspot images were captured by the Michelson Doppler Imager (MDI) using filtered visible light. On March 18, 2009, the face of the Sun was spotless. On March 18, 2009 our star was relatively subdued. Centuries of observations have shown that the number of sunspots waxes and wanes over a roughly 11-year period. Sunspots exhibit other predictable behavior. Since regular sunspot observations began, astronomers have documented 24 cycles of sunspot activity. Solar Cycle 24 began in early 2008, but showed minimal activity through early 2009. Periods of intense magnetic activity on the Sun can spawn severe space weather that damages infrastructure in our high-tech society. Roughly a million miles away from our planet, the SOHO spacecraft sits between Earth and the Sun, giving us an unobstructed view of the nearest star.
Size: 3600px × 3600px
Photo credit: © Photo Researchers / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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