NASA confirms sun’s magnetic field is about to flip

The moment we have been waiting for...

Via nasa.gov, 5 August 2013 - Something big is about to happen on the sun.  According to measurements from NASA-supported observatories, the sun's vast magnetic field is about to flip.

"It looks like we're no more than 3 to 4 months away from a complete field reversal," says solar physicist Todd Hoeksema of Stanford University. "This change will have ripple effects throughout the solar system."

An artist's concept of the heliospheric current sheet, which becomes more wavy when the sun's magnetic field flips.

The sun's magnetic field changes polarity approximately every 11 years.  It happens at the peak of each solar cycle as the sun's inner magnetic dynamo re-organizes itself.  The coming reversal will mark the midpoint of Solar Cycle 24. Half of 'Solar Max' will be behind us, with half yet to come.

Hoeksema is the director of Stanford's Wilcox Solar Observatory, one of the few observatories in the world that monitor the sun's polar magnetic fields.  The poles are a herald of change. Just as Earth scientists watch our planet's polar regions for signs of climate change, solar physicists do the same thing for the sun. Magnetograms at Wilcox have been tracking the sun's polar magnetism since 1976, and they have recorded three grand reversals—with a fourth in the offing.



Solar physicist Phil Scherrer, also at Stanford, describes what happens: "The sun's polar magnetic fields weaken, go to zero, and then emerge again with the opposite polarity. This is a regular part of the solar cycle."

A reversal of the sun's magnetic field is, literally, a big event. The domain of the sun's magnetic influence (also known as the "heliosphere") extends billions of kilometers beyond Pluto. Changes to the field's polarity ripple all the way out to the Voyager probes, on the doorstep of interstellar space.

When solar physicists talk about solar field reversals, their conversation often centers on the "current sheet."

The current sheet is a sprawling surface jutting outward from the sun's equator where the sun's slowly-rotating magnetic field induces an electrical current.  The current itself is small, only one ten-billionth of an amp per square meter (0.0000000001 amps/m2), but there’s a lot of it: the amperage flows through a region 10,000 km thick and billions of kilometers wide.  Electrically speaking, the entire heliosphere is organized around this enormous sheet.

During field reversals, the current sheet becomes very wavy. Scherrer likens the undulations to the seams on a baseball.  As Earth orbits the sun, we dip in and out of the current sheet. Transitions from one side to another can stir up stormy space weather around our planet.

Cosmic rays are also affected. These are high-energy particles accelerated to nearly light speed by supernova explosions and other violent events in the galaxy.  Cosmic rays are a danger to astronauts and space probes, and some researchers say they might affect the cloudiness and climate of Earth. The current sheet acts as a barrier to cosmic rays, deflecting them as they attempt to penetrate the inner solar system. A wavy, crinkly sheet acts as a better shield against these energetic particles from deep space.

As the field reversal approaches, data from Wilcox show that the sun's two hemispheres are out of synch.
"The sun's north pole has already changed sign, while the south pole is racing to catch up," says Scherrer. "Soon, however, both poles will be reversed, and the second half of Solar Max will be underway."
When that happens, Hoeksema and Scherrer will share the news with their colleagues and the public.

Sun Update: Solar Flare Eruption at the South-East of the Sun SDO-AIA 304 – April.24,2013

When the moon shall have faded out from the sky, and the sun shall shine at noonday a dull cherry red, and the seas shall be frozen over, and the icecap shall have crept downward to the equator from either pole . . . when all the cities shall have long been dead and crumbled into dust, and all life shall be on the last verge of extinction on this globe; then, on a bit of lichen, growing on the bald rocks beside the eternal snows of Panama, shall be seated a tiny insect, preening its antennae in the glow of the worn-out sun, the sole survivor of animal life on this our earth — a melancholy bug.
- – - William Jacob Holland “The Moth Book” 1903
  
To believe in a child is to believe in the future. Through their aspirations they will save the world. With their combined knowledge the turbulent seas of hate and injustice will be calmed. They will champion the causes of life’s underdogs, forging a society without class discrimination. They will supply humanity with music and beauty as it has never known. They will endure. Towards these ends I pledge my life’s work. I will supply the children with tools and knowledge to overcome the obstacles. I will pass on the wisdom of my years and temper it with patience. I shall impact in each child the desire to fulfill his or her dream. I shall teach.
- – - Henry James
  


A solar flare is a sudden brightening observed over the Sun‘s surface or the solar limb, which is interpreted as a large energy release of up to 6 × 10²⁵ joules of energy (about a sixth of the total energy output of the Sun each second or 160,000,000,000 megatons of TNT equivalent, over 25,000 times more energy than released from the impact of Comet Shoemaker–Levy 9 with Jupiter). They are mainly followed by a colossal coronal mass ejection also known as a CME.^[1] The flare ejects clouds of electrons, ions, and atoms through the corona of the sun into space. These clouds typically reach Earth a day or two after the event.^[2] The term is also used to refer to similar phenomena in other stars, where the term stellar flare applies.


Published on Apr 24, 2013

Solar Flare Eruption at the South-East of the Sun SDO-AIA 304 – Ghost shaped plasma cloud – STEREO archive CME.

These pictures are from NASA, and Were taken from the AIA instrument of the satellite SDO (Solar Dynamics Observatory), with a wavelength of 304 Angstroms. this movie was produced by helioviewer org.

SUN’S STRANGE BEHAVIOR BAFFLES ASTRONOMERS

Luke 21:25-27 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.

In 2010 we had this from NBC News: Sun's strange behavior baffles astronomers. 

Excerpt:

"An expected minimum of solar activity, between 2008 and 2009, was unusually deep. And while the sun would normally ramp up activity by now, heading into its next cycle, the sun may be on the verge of a weak solar cycle instead..."We're witnessing something unlike anything we've seen in 100 years," said David Hathaway of NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala."

http://www.nbcnews.com/id/37705466/#.UU5ilhdOMTZ

Then in June 2011 we have these two articles: 

Discovery News Excerpt:

Is the Sun About to Fizz Out?

"Despite all the incredible solar flare action we've seen in recent months as our nearest star ramps up toward solar maximum, which is expected to occur in 2013, scientists are predicting the next solar cycle (Cycle 25) will be notable in that it might not even happen."This is highly unusual and unexpected," Frank Hill, associate director of the NSO's Solar Synoptic Network, said in a conference press release. "But the fact that three completely different views of the sun point in the same direction is a powerful indicator that the sunspot cycle may be going into hibernation. 

In another line of research — a study I've been following with great interest for some time — Kitt Peak astronomers Matt Penn and William Livingston have been studying sunspot magnetic field strength data since 1991. Although 20 years is a very short period in solar terms, they've noticed a magnetic weakening trend."

All these factors appear to converge on a common conclusion: Something weird is going on inside the sun, and theorists are currently at a loss to explain the phenomenon."

http://news.discovery.com/space/is-the-sun-about-to-fizz-out-110614.htm

Environmental Research Web Excerpt:

What's going on with the Sun?

"Earlier this month a lot of column inches were devoted to the news that the Sun continues to behave in a peculiar manner – and that solar activity could be about to enter a period of extended calm...Solarphysicists agree that the Sun has been acting strangely of late...Some see this as a sign that solar magnetic activity is slowing down and the Sun may be about to head into a prolonged period of magnetic weakness.

http://environmentalresearchweb.org/cws/article/opinion/46496

Then on March 9, 2013 we had this:

NASA says that something unexpected is happening on the Sun.

NASA WARNING ON SUN: 'Something unexpected is happening there'...

Something really is going on.

Here is my explanation of what is going on from an earlier post.

Years ago I read about the problem of missing neutrinos from the sun. Scientists attempting to understand what was going on in the suns core were shocked to find that two-thirds of the expected neutrinos were missing. They measured neutrinos because It takes thousands of years for photons that are created in the sun's core to come to the surface and radiate out. Neutrinos only take minutes to come to the surface and reach the earth.

"Neutrinos are created as a result of certain types of radioactive decay, or nuclear reactions such as those that take place in the Sun...

Neutrinos do not carry electric charge, which means that they are not affected by the electromagnetic forces that act on charged particles such as electrons and protons. Neutrinos are affected only by the weak sub-atomic force, of much shorter range than electromagnetism, and gravity, which is relatively weak on the subatomic scale. Therefore a typical neutrino passes through normal matter unimpeded...

Most neutrinos passing through the Earth emanate from the Sun. About 65 billion (6.5×1010) solar neutrinos per second pass through every square centimeter perpendicular to the direction of the Sun in the region of the Earth."

Here is the standard explanation for this:

"Starting in the late 1960s, several experiments found that the number of electron neutrinos arriving from the Sun was between one third and one half the number predicted by the Standard Solar Model. This discrepancy, which became known as the solar neutrino problem, remained unresolved for some thirty years. It was resolved by discovery of neutrino oscillation and mass. (The Standard Model of particle physics had assumed that neutrinos are massless and cannot change flavor. However, if neutrinos had mass, they could change flavor, or oscillate between flavors)." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_core

However, there are some scientist who say it has not been solved:

Stellar Nucleosynthesis

"The complete absence of solar neutrinos coming from the Sun 100% falsifies the fusion 

mathematical model of the Sun. Instead of throwing out the fusion model, the authority 

agreed to make more fantasy particles to plug the holes. These are collaterally known as “epi-cycles”, which are additional things or motions invented to explain away 

inconsistencies in a failed model that has many wrong root assumptions."  Wolynski J. J. (2012). Ockham’s Razor Definition for Planet and Star.

"Although the new results support our theoretical understanding of how the core of the Sun works, it challenges physicists in a profound way because these kind of neutrino transformations are not allowed in the so-called 'Standard Model' of the electromagnetic and weak interaction. The results also provide some insights into cosmology because the number of neutrinos expected to exist in the universe is determined by Big Bang theory. If you multiply the expected numbers by the possible masses of these 'oscillating' neutrinos, you end up with neutrinos in the universe accounting for as much cosmological mass as all the visible stars in the universe. This is, however, far less than the dark matter component, so massive neutrinos still don't account for this even greater mystery in astronomy."  Dr. Sten Odenwald

What does this mean?

If the missing neutrinos indicate that the nuclear furnace at the core of the sun has gone out it would take a few years to start showing up. It would not take thousands it would only take a few years. Is this what we are seeing?

FIRE IN THE SKY: COMET OF THE CENTURY - PHYSICIST JAMES M. MCCANNEY SUGGESTS THAT COMET ISON IS BEING ACCOMPANIED BY 7 OTHER OBJECTS, AND THAT NASA IS COVERING UP THE INFORMATION?!

January 22, 2013 - SPACE - This just in... it is too early to confirm, but some initial data suggests that Comet C/2012/S1 has at least one companion, and possibly up to seven. 

When something like this happens, one has to be very cautious, but after examining the data that I have seen, I would say that it appears to be real. Furthermore one of the possible companions appears to be at about two lunar distances (half a million miles) and has not formed a coma for some odd reason. If the object is orbiting the nucleus of the comet at that distance it implies that the nucleus of this comet is possibly as big or bigger than Earth. 

Also, with companions we will be able to directly calculate the mass, and therefore the size of the comet nucleus using standard astronomical methods. NASA tier two scientists have already put their foot in their mouths with an estimate based on some geeee whiz bad science. As I have said before one of the biggest open lies at NASA is concerning the size of comet nuclei, always minimizing them to almost nothing and [then] trying to promote their incorrect dirty snowball comet model. We know they can directly measure comet nuclei with radio telescopes so why all the bad science and opiniated estimates? 

Latest image of Comet ISON.

Normally no one would be able to contradict them because they hold the reigns of the radio telescopes, and who is to contradict them? But with companions, we use a simple astronomical formula and wala we have the mass of the nucleus and there is nothing NASA can do about that. With the recent interaction of this comet with Earth, while the comet was at the range of Jupiter's orbit, this would be the second indication that this is a whopper of a comet. 

NASA has been extremely active in damage control on this comet and just today issued a video clearly doing damage control. Why all the announcements, when the comet (according to NASA) will not even be visible until next November? Stay tuned folks this is getting reeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaalllllllllllllllll interesting. -Jim Mccanney [Edited for clarity].

Orginal post @ http://thecelestialconvergence.blogspot.hk/2013/01/fire-in-sky-comet-of-century-physicist.html

SOLAR WATCH: MONSTER SUNSPOT 1654 AIMS OUR WAY - EARTHQUAKE WINDOW OPENING AS CORONAL MASS EJECTIONS TO HIT EARTH ON 17th Jan!

January 15, 2013 - THE SUN - Simulations of a coronal mass ejection (CME) show the impact arrival of such on January 17th. This coincides with Senior Meteorologist Kevin Martin's window for an earthquake in North America. The Sun is acting up again, with large sunspots moving across the solar disk. The sunspots are powerful enough for x-class solar flares, the most powerful of them all.

Image: The Weather Space Network.

While a 10% chance is now given for such a flare, one is already on the way. This should impact on January 17th and go into the 18th. As it does so, aurora will be likely in the middle to upper north and south latitude locations.  Strangely, this coincides with Martin's earthquake window. "Using HS network and my own theory (posted here), we are getting close to the next larger quake in the Western North America region between Mexico and Alaska," said Martin. "because the CME from the Sun is joining in during the quake window, all indicators are showing up." Because all indications are showing up, Martin says it is "go time" for unsettled seismic activity. - The Weather Space Network.

CHANCE OF FLARES: NOAA forecasters estimate a 60% chance of M-class solar flares, and a 5% chance of X-flares today. The probable source would be big sunspot AR1654, which is squarely facing Earth. Sunspot AR1654 has a beta-gamma magnetic field that harbors energy for M-class solar flares. - Space Weather.


SOLAR UPDATE: Solar activity is low with several low level C-Class flares detected around various locations across the visible solar disk. There will remain a chance for an isolated M-Class event around Sunspot 1654. A Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) is visible this morning in STEREO-Ahead COR2 imagery, however it does not look to be Earth directed at this time. A slow moving Coronal Mass Ejection (371 km/s) generated by a solar flare on Sunday morning, is expected to impact our geomagnetic field by January 17th. - Solar Ham.

Like an enormous cannon that is slowly turning its barrel toward us, the latest giant sunspot region AR1654 is steadily moving into position to face Earth, loaded with plenty of magnetic energy to create M-class flares—moderate-sized outbursts of solar energy that have the potential to cause brief radio blackouts on Earth and, at the very least, spark bright aurorae around the upper latitudes. Active Region 1654 on the Sun’s western limb, seen by SDO on Jan. 11. Credit: NASA/SDO/HMI team. Diagram by J. Major.

MONSTER SUNSPOT AIMING OUR WAY: According to SpaceWeather.com, AR1654 "could be the sunspot that breaks the recent lengthy spell of calm space weather around our planet." The image above, captured by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory earlier today, shows the structure of AR1654 upon the Sun's photosphere—its light-emitting "surface" layer. Stretching many tens of thousands of miles, this magnetic solar blemish easily dwarfs our entire planet. And it's not just a prediction that this sunspot will unleash a flare—it already has. AR1654 came around the limb of the sun crackling with activity. Shortly after the probability of AR1654 releasing a flare was raised to 50% it did just that, letting loose with a burst of magnetic energy that was observed by SDO's multi-channel cameras.  Peaking at 9:11 UTC, this M1-class flare won't have much more effect on Earth than perhaps some radio and GPS interference and maybe increased auroral activity. But AR1654 is still evolving and growing… and moving to face us. In the meantime, solar astronomers and observatories like SDO are keeping an ever-watchful eye on this magnetic monster. - PHYSORG.