Thursday, July 9, 2009

New Sun Spots and New National Geographic Channel Premier, "Living On The Moon"


Finally our sun seems to be coming back to life. The sun goes through an 11 year cycle where it waxes and wanes with solar activity. The sun has been stuck in the waning phase for an extended period and up until a month or so ago solar physicists didn't really know why.

Seems a slower then usual moving solar jet stream associated with sunspot production thousands of miles below the sun's surface has finally reached a critical 22 degree latitude of the sun and with it new cycle sunspots.


Got a call from Spaceweather PHONE last Sunday, July 5 informing me of a huge Sunspot taking place and got lucky with a break in the clouds to capture some of the solar action.





The image above is active region 1024 starting to disappear by July 6. They expect upwards of 90 sunspots to occur daily at solar maximum sometime in 2013.







National Geographic Channel is celebrating the 40 th. anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon landing with a new premier,
"Living On The Moon". The show will be aired Sunday July 19, 9 pm EDT, a day before the actual anniversary of July 20.


See inside NASA's Constellation program which will take 4 astronauts to the Moon's south pole as early as 2020, only this time round our long term goal is to stay and set up base.

Using 3D animations you'll watch as the initial lonely outpost expands to a lunar city by 2050 and a tourist resort by the middle of the twenty first century.

To be able to survive and flourish on the moon we'll have to harness the lunar resources from turning moon rock into water to eventually exporting lunar produced solar energy to our earth, very interesting concepts and one of NGC's best premiers.

This will be my last post before I leave for China next Wednesday. I will post if I am able, if not see you when I get back July 28. I'll leave you now with a video of the Constellation program from launch to splashdown.



46 comments:

Ruth said...

Bob, you saying these are images you took, of the SUN?? Geez, and I haven't even figured out the moon yet with my new camera.

I've heard a bit about the 90 year cycles of the sun, and that in 2011-12 we'll be at the peak of solar activity again, or something.

Have a BLAST in China, I hope the skies will be wide open for your total solar eclipse. Will look for posts while you're there. Travel well, and don't forget that meditation I told you about. YOU are flying, and the plane is inside you.

betchai said...

wow, I don't know how to take pictures of the sun definitely, those are clear and crisp picture and you even got the sun spots. like Ruth, I still have to figure out also how to take up close picture of the moon with my camera, i always lost the detail when I take moon pictures :( so am guessing the sun would be a lot more challenging.

Swubird said...

Bob:

Great shots of the sun. Excellent.

Hey, what ever happened to the Chinese moon shot? Did they cancel out?

Thanks for the tip on the TV program, and have a great time in China.

Hapy trails.

Stephanie Barr said...

Nice sunspot.

They do make some pretty CGI pictures of speculative futures, don't they? Here's hoping we can hash out a reality, if not to match, that still works.

Unknown said...

wow, great pics of the sun. how'd you do that? interesting info on the moon. that show sounds like a good one to watch. have fun on your trip, stay safe. looking forward to all the pics!

Bob Johnson said...

Yes Ruth I took these images all by myself,lol. You got a new camera, cool, you have taken some of the best moon images I've seen, you have a great photographic eye.

They used to think that solar max would be around 2011-2012 but have now changed it because of the lagging jet stream to 2013. Lol yes I will try the plane inside me.\m/\m/

Bob Johnson said...

Thanks betchai, I used my telescope so that is the reason for the clear pics, also you have to use a white solar filter so you can see the detail, then you have to run through various ISO settings with the clouds messing you up all the time,lol, lots of fun though.\m/\m/

Bob Johnson said...

Thanks swubird, I'm still going to be posting a few images with the UFO, should be cool.\m/\m/

Bob Johnson said...

Thanks Stephanie, as long as we get to the Moon, the other will eventually come and be icing on the cake, should be an interesting couple of decades.\m/\m/

Bob Johnson said...

Thanks PJ. I use my telescope and a special white light solar filter, the clouds added a nice touch, gave the sun depth. I will be taking lots of images and posting hoping before I get back, if not as soon as.\m/\m/

sexy legs and body said...

Bob, fantastic shots, i wish you a safe trip and hope to see lots of great shots.
Colin

AngelBaby said...

How did you take pictures of the Sun? These are amazing! You are awesome! I had no idea that the Sun has cycles, it always seems to be the same but then again I don't know much about this stuff.

I hope you have a absolutely marvelous trip to China! Just one more word ..... Pictures ...... Lots of pictures!

Love and Blessings,
AngelBaby

Nature Nut /JJ Loch said...

Bob, what an AWESOME post and photos!!! I was wondering when I would hear news of the moon's habitation.

Have a great trip to China. I'm praying you see the BEST eclipse EVER!!!

Have sent in my second book project. :D Can enjoy the rest of the summer now. Feel like dancing in the wind. I was thinking about that project every minute for months.

Hugs, JJ

Nature Nut /JJ Loch said...

Oh, and I am running for the sunscreen after seeing those marvelous sunspot photos!!!

Hugs, JJ

Mike said...

Bob,

Thanks for the wonderful update and posting on the solar activity. As always, your site is informative, educational, and fun with lots of neat images. Good luck on your trip to China and looking forward to what goodies you will post when you return.

Bob Johnson said...

Hey thanks a lot Colin, I'm sure I'll have a great time and for sure will be taking lots of pics, I bout 4, 4 gig memory cards,lol.\m/\m/

Bob Johnson said...

Thanks AngelBaby, I use one of my telescopes and a special Solar white light filter, I'm glad you learned something new about our sun, pictures always help make things a little more clearer.\m/\m/

Bob Johnson said...

Thanks JJ good luck with your new book and now it is time to relax, and celebrate. Lol, I'll be getting some sunscreen as well, it is hot over in China, and humid.\m/\m/

Bob Johnson said...

Thanks a lot Mike, I hope to be able to post while there, if not I'll probably have lots of posts to do when I get back, lots to see and do.\m/\m/

notedscholar said...

There is perhaps a connection here. Maybe the sun spots are endangering out planet, so NASA plans on escaping to the moon. Joke's on them, b/c frequently the moon is closer to the sun than the Earth. This is why scientists should be forced to take courses in symbolic logic.

Cheers,
NS

Ivanhoe said...

Wow! The sun spots are amazing, Bob! I will try to remember to watch the Moon stuff on Nat Geo. Sounds like a very cool one.

Have a safe trip, Bob! Hope to hear from you once or twice while you are away. But who knows with those damn communists playing censors. Stay safe!

Bob Johnson said...

Lol, notedscholar, point taken although all the knowledge on symbolic logic isn't going to help, if the Earth goes the Moon goes, their real goal is Mars,lol.\m/\m/

Bob Johnson said...

Thanks Ivanhoe, my plans if allowed were to post at least a couple times while I'm over there, depends on lots of stuff, nobody has gotten back to me about being able to blog from there.\m/\m/

Cruiselife & Co said...

Wow, these pic are amazing Bob, and I'm not at all surprised. How else will I know what's going on in the universe without your updates.

kRiZcPEc said...

to live on the moon, wow, what can I say? Only the selected few can have this priviledge and the rest can only look at the moon dreaming about that. :)

Bob Johnson said...

Thanks Dr.Lauren, glad you get your updates here.\m/\m/

Bob Johnson said...

Hi kRiZ cPEc, for sure but one day it will be within reach of everyone, for now it is fantasy.\m/\m/

Astro-Nuts said...

Hey Bob. Another great post. I love Sun pictures. I am thinking of ordering the solar "kit" to fit my telescope, so will let you know. Anyway, have a great time in China.

Going by your track record, I'm sure you'll have some amazing things to share and some great photos. You'll be over there enjoying an eclipse and I'll be over here enjoying our crappy summer. I don't think I've seen a star for over a week.

Safe travels. And don't worry, you'll survive the plane ride :)

Bob Johnson said...

Thanks Colin, now is the time to get a solar filter, they expect to see a big increase in solar activity.

This has got to be the worst July in history here, I have little expectations in clear skies and have already packed my camera, I just hope I don't bring the crappy weather with me to China, lol.\m/\m/

Will said...

Those are your photos of the sun Bob? Amazing! And thanks for the heads up on the NGC show. I had not heard about it.

RW said...

Just a awesome post filled with great info Bob!\m/

Hey for all your great comments you have left me I would like to show my appreciation I have entered your name in my photo poster drawing. Thank you!

\m/Click here for details Idaho Photo: 29 Top Commenter's 20x30 Photo Poster Drawing Give Away\m/

Bob Johnson said...

Yes...yes they are Will, hope to get some decent ones of the eclipse though I won't have my telescope with me. The preview dvd NGC sent me looked real good, you should enjoy it, lots of interesting ideas they want to try out.\m/\m/

Bob Johnson said...

Roger that is so cool and thanks for the mention!! What a great photo to be giving away, definitely a hanger upper.\m/\m/

Bob Johnson said...

Thanks Jishnu, and thanks for adding me, I love your site and have added it to my blogroll, thanks for dropping by.\m/\m/

Cashmere said...

Cool facts and pics..
Have a blast in China! I'm sure you will btw.. Can't wait to see your photos after the trip.. :)

Bob Johnson said...

Thanks Cashmere,I'm sure it will be quite the experience, will be taking lots of pics.\m/\m/

Unknown said...

just wanted to stop in before you leave to wish you a safe trip!

Ivanhoe said...

Just coming over to send you off on your long journey. Tomorrow! Wow! That went fast.
Have a safe and fun trip, Bob! :o)

Bob Johnson said...

Thanks for the well wishes PJ.\m/\m/

Bob Johnson said...

Thanks Ivanhoe, it went very fast, I expect it will be quite the adventure.\m/\m/

Joemill said...

Very informative site! I'm actually reading the rest of your posts. Today is my first stop. :)

myonlyphoto said...

Hey Bob I missed your departure, sorry. Hope you are having fun. On my way to check out your latest post. And for some reason I thought that you were leaving on 22nd of July. Ouch....Anna :)

Texas Travelers said...

I enjoyed the post and photos.

Whew!!!!! Sunspots are back!!!!!

Thanks for the visit,
Troy

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