Bob Zimmerman gives the latest on the sun’s current mediocre performance in the solar cycle: An upbeat wimpy maximum holds on- Behind The Black
Category Archives: Solar Science
ISON – The die hard comet
Evidence is growing that a part of the Comet ISON nucleus did in fact survive its close solar experience (see previous posting). Here is a report from NASA:
Continuing a history of surprising behavior, material from Comet ISON appeared on the other side of the sun on the evening on Nov. 28, 2013, despite not having been seen in observations during its closest approach to the sun.
This movie shows Comet ISON orbiting around the sun – represented by the white
circle — on Nov. 28, 2013. ISON looks smaller as it streams away, but scientists
believe its nucleus may still be intact. The video covers Nov. 27, 2013, 3:30 p.m. ET
to Nov. 29, 2013, 8:30 a.m. ET. Image Credit: ESA/NASA/SOHO/Jhelioviewer
circle — on Nov. 28, 2013. ISON looks smaller as it streams away, but scientists
believe its nucleus may still be intact. The video covers Nov. 27, 2013, 3:30 p.m. ET
to Nov. 29, 2013, 8:30 a.m. ET. Image Credit: ESA/NASA/SOHO/Jhelioviewer
As ISON appeared to dim and fizzle in several observatories and later could not be seen at all by NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory or by ground based solar observatories, many scientists believed it had disintegrated completely. However, a streak of bright material streaming away from the sun appeared in the European Space Agency and NASA’s Solar and Heliospheric Observatory later in the evening. The question remains whether it is merely debris from the comet, or if some portion of the comet’s nucleus survived, but late-night analysis from scientists with NASA’s Comet ISON Observing Campaign suggest that there is at least a small nucleus intact.
ISON appears as a white smear heading up and away from the sun. ISON was
not visible during its closest approach to the sun, so many scientists thought
it had disintegrated, but images like this one from the ESA/NASA Solar and
Heliospheric Observatory suggest that a small nucleus may be intact.
not visible during its closest approach to the sun, so many scientists thought
it had disintegrated, but images like this one from the ESA/NASA Solar and
Heliospheric Observatory suggest that a small nucleus may be intact.
Image Credit: ESA/NASA/SOHO/GSFC
Continuing a history of surprising behavior, material from Comet ISON appeared on the other side of the sun on the evening on Nov. 28, 2013, despite not having been seen in observations during its closest approach to the sun.
As ISON appeared to dim and fizzle in several observatories and later could not be seen at all by NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory or by ground based solar observatories, many scientists believed it had disintegrated completely. However, a streak of bright material streaming away from the sun appeared in the European Space Agency and NASA’s Solar and Heliospheric Observatory later in the evening. The question remains whether it is merely debris from the comet, or if some portion of the comet’s nucleus survived, but late-night analysis from scientists with NASA’s Comet ISON Observing Campaign suggest that there is at least a small nucleus intact.
Another view from SOHO’s C2 chronograph shows Comet ISON appearing
bright as it streams toward the sun (right). it can be seen as a dim streak
heading upward and out in the left image. The comet may still be intact.
bright as it streams toward the sun (right). it can be seen as a dim streak
heading upward and out in the left image. The comet may still be intact.
Image Credit: ESA/NASA/SOHO/Jhelioviewer
Throughout the year that researchers have watched Comet ISON – and especially during its final approach to the sun – the comet brightened and dimmed in unexpected ways. Such brightness changes usually occur in response to material boiling off the comet, and different material will do so at different temperatures thus providing clues as to what the comet is made of. Analyzing this pattern will help scientists understand the composition of ISON, which contains material assembled during the very formation of the solar system some 4.5 billion years ago.
Related Links:
For more information on Comet ISON: www.nasa.gov/ison
To download recent ISON imagery: http://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/Gallery/CometISON.html
Comet ISON swings around the sun [Update]
The Comet ISON swung behind the Sun today. Initial reports were that it did not survive its close encounter with the big heat but others are now saying that there appears to be a small object that remains on the same trajectory. Will watch for updates.
[ Update 1:10 am Nov.29.13: It’s still unclear as to whether there is a substantial remnant of the ISON core remaining after the comet’s encounter with the sun or if there is just a fading dust cloud:
- Schrödinger’s Comet – The Planetary Society
- Scientists baffled by new pictures of Comet ISON – Spaceflight Now
]
Here’s are some great images of ISON taken from the SOHO spacecraft before it went around the sun: Comet ISON Streams Toward the Sun – NASA
NASA / ESA / SOHO / Emily Lakdawalla
ISON approaches the Sun as seen from SOHO LASCO C3 (Nov 28, 2013)
This animation contains 123 images captured by the SOHO spacecraft between November 26 at 21:20 UT and November 28 at 15:37 UT.
Latest updates at
The Sun Live – a new app for Windows 8.1 and Phone 8
Here’s a message today from Jon Saalbach, the creator of the site and app The Sun Live:
The Sun Live is released today as an app for Windows 8.1, for Windows Phone 8 and available for other units as a web app.
As an amateur astronomer myself, I started developing The Sun Live to have an easy and convenient way to see what the Sun is up to today, and decide if there are sunspots or prominences I want to study in the telescope.
Amateur astronomers, armchair astronomers and other people alike will enjoy exploring the Sun’s surface layers in detail and follow sunspots, prominences and flares as they appear on the latest images from the Solar Dynamics Observatory. For more solar action, check out the Picks of the Week, showing the most spectacular past events, chosen by NASA’s SDO team and illustrated with images, descriptions and video clips (not all the video clips are accessible on Windows Phone).
The fascinating facts will surprise and entertain you and provide you with interesting subjects for conversation. Even most amateur astronomers might learn something new here. If you want to go more in depth, the Learn More section will take you through the basics of the Sun’s structure, life cycle and its influences on life here on Earth.
For those ready to take on the Sun themselves, The Sun Live will show what they need to get started observing sunspots, planet transits, prominences and solar eclipses yourself. Dust off your old binoculars or zoom enabled camera and learn how to get a cheap and safe solar filter.
From the Windows/Windows Phone apps you can pin the current views or the latest pick of the week on your live tile and, on Windows Phone 8, as your lock screen background. Secondary tiles let you go directly to the feature you want to see on your Windows phone.
The Sun Live 2.0 for Windows Phone 8:
Download Link: http://www.windowsphone.com/s?appid=2ef562fe-db7b-4a3b-ba9a-02c5dfaf73ff
QR-code, screen shots and graphics available here: http://www.saalbach.dk/downloads/TheSunLive2WP.zip
The Sun Live for Windows 8.1:
Download Link: http://apps.microsoft.com/windows/app/the-sun-live/c68916d4-c77c-4dbf-84f2-27c355f7b2a4
QR-code, screen shots and graphics available here: http://www.saalbach.dk/downloads/TheSunLiveWin.zip
The sun got more angry in October
Bob Zimmerman gives an update on the state of the sun, which got more active last month, though still subdued compared to recent solar maximums : The sun goes boom! – Behind The Black.
Be sure to check daily the latest solar and space weather images and data displayed on the HobbySpace Sun & Space Weather page. Here, for example, is an updated graph of the number of sunspots per month: