Sun Makes History: First Spotless Month in a Century

Michael Asher
Daily Tech
Monday, Sept 1, 2008

The sun has reached a milestone not seen for nearly 100 years: an entire month has passed without a single visible sunspot being noted.

The event is significant as many climatologists now believe solar magnetic activity – which determines the number of sunspots — is an influencing factor for climate on earth.

According to data from the Solar Influences Data Center (SIDC), the last time such an event occurred was June of 1913. Sunspot data has been collected since 1749.

(Article continues below)

When the sun is active, it’ p begins.< cycle new a as quickly, very return sunspots Normally near-zero. to drop briefly numbers and slows, activity years, 11 Every month. single in more or 100 of sunspot see uncommon not s>

But this year — which corresponds to the start of Solar Cycle 24 — has been extraordinarily long and quiet, with the first seven months averaging a sunspot number of only 3. August followed with none at all. The astonishing rapid drop of the past year has defied predictions, and caught nearly all astronomers by surprise.

Full article here

• 
• Social bookmarks
• 
• Email this article
• 
• Print this page

Comment Terms Of Use

7 Responses to “Sun Makes History: First Spotless Month in a Century”

1. william ramos Says:
   September 1st, 2008 at 12:38 pm

   Alex Jones 4 President

2. Dave Says:
   September 1st, 2008 at 6:42 pm

   Hmmm, never knew the sun P’s.

3. obamy mammy Says:
   September 1st, 2008 at 11:11 pm

   HI MY NAME IS Obamy!When i become Presly-dent i’m going to make a sun tax, so if you want to see the sun you’ll have to pay a fee. You don’t think you can use the sun forever and not get charged for it? You feeble little man you!
   I is Obamy and i approved this add!

4. Paulson is an idiot Says:
   September 2nd, 2008 at 2:50 am

   Wow.

   We might just see yet ANOTHER record cold winter in many parts of the world, just like last year.

5. Frenchman Says:
   September 2nd, 2008 at 9:00 am

   obamy mammy

   YOUR AN IDIOT!!

6. Frenchman Says:
   September 2nd, 2008 at 9:01 am

   No obamy mammy is the IDIOT!

7. Douglas in Oakland Says:
   September 9th, 2008 at 10:08 pm

   That entire paragraph is incomprehensible. Allow me to quote: “<cycle new a as quickly, very return sunspots Normally near-zero. to drop briefly numbers and slows, activity years,11 Every month.”
   Come on, Watson, read the article first if you’re going to link to it.