A Backward Sunspot and the New Solar Cycle
Explanation:
Why is sunspot 905 backwards?
Perhaps it is a key marker for the beginning of a new magnetic
cycle on our Sun.
Every 11 years, our Sun goes through a
magnetic cycle, at the end of which its overall
magnetic
orientation is reversed.
An 11-year solar cycle has been observed for hundreds of years by
noting peaks and valleys in the average number of
sunspots.
Just now, the Sun is near
Solar Minimum, and likely to start a
long progression toward the most active time, called
Solar Maximum, in about 5.5 years.
An indicator that the sun's magnetic field is reversing is the
appearance of sunspots with the reverse magnetic polarity than normal.
A few weeks ago, one small
candidate reverse sunspot was sited but faded quickly.
Now, however, a larger sunspot with negative polarity is being tracked.
This sunspot, numbered 905, appears as the unusual white spot in the
above magnetic image of the Sun taken with the
SOHO spacecraft a few days ago.
In the past few days,
Sunspot 905 has actually begun to break apart
and might also become the source of
coronal mass ejections and explosive
solar flares.
Solar astronomers predict that the coming
Solar Maximum will be unusually active.
Authors & editors:
Robert Nemiroff
(MTU) &
Jerry Bonnell
(USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings,
and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris.
Specific
rights apply.
A service of:
LHEA at
NASA /
GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
