SDO Launches / Solar Update. More things to observe the sun?

[Savwafair2012 Profile]

So much money is invested to look deeper into the sun


SDO Launch - The launch of the Solar Dynamics Observatory took place Thursday morning and the images are below. This will be the start of a mission that will enhance the way we look at the sun and beam to earth High Quality images of our star.

SDO Launch
Joint USAF/NOAA Report of Solar and Geophysical Activity

SDF Number 041 Issued at 2200Z on 10 Feb 2010

Analysis of Solar Active Regions and Activity from 09/2100Z to 10/2100Z: Solar activity was low. Todays activity consisted of 3 C-class events, as well as numerous B-class events. Region 1045 (N22W39) produced the largest event of the day, a C3.7 flare at 10/1514Z, but is beginning to show signs of decay. Region 1046 (N24E28) and Region 1047 (S18E43) remain stable and quiet. There is a recurrent, southern hemisphere coronal hole near the center disk.

Solar Activity Forecast: Solar activity is expected to be predominately low. However, there is a chance for an isolated M-class flare for the next 3 days (11-13 February).

Geophysical Activity Summary 09/2100Z to 10/2100Z: The geomagnetic field has been quiet.

Geophysical Activity Forecast: The geomagnetic field is expected to be unsettled on day 1 (11 February). An increase to unsettled with a slight chance for active conditions is expected on day 2 (12 February), and unsettled conditions are expected on day 3 (13 February). The activity is forecast as a response to CME activity on 6 February.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- It was considerably less thrilling than being three miles from the Space Shuttle Endeavour launch. But I just got through watching the Atlas V rocket lift off from Cape Canaveral while standing in the Daytona International Speedway garage area.

Jon Edwards, who is Jeff Gordon's PR man, knew I had covered the Shuttle launch on Monday morning. So he found me a while ago and asked if I thought we could see today's launch. He had watched the Shuttle from the balcony where he is staying in Daytona and figured we'd have a shot at the Atlas V.

We climbed up on the fan deck in the garage area and, sure enough, there came a bright glow rising over the backstretch grandstands. We watched it disappear into the clouds. No matter the distance, still a cool thing to watch.

The Atlas V is carrying the Solar Dynamics Observatory. As I type this, 20 minutes after launch, NASA TV reports all is progressing well.

According to NASA's website:

The SDO spacecraft is headed to an orbit about 22,300 miles above Earth. From that altitude, the spacecraft will point its instruments at the sun and relay the readings instantly to a ground station in New Mexico. The research is expected to reveal the sun's inner workings by constantly taking high resolution images of the sun, collecting readings from inside the sun and measuring its magnetic field activity. This data is expected to give researchers the insight they need to eventually predict solar storms and other activity on the sun that can affect spacecraft in orbit, astronauts on the International Space Station and electronic and other systems on Earth.

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[yoursoulmate Profile]

...the boobies were a lil bit more pleasant to look at