Solar maximum
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Solar maximum or solar max is the period of greatest solar activity in the solar cycle of the sun. During solar maximum, sunspots appear.
Solar maximum is contrasted with solar minimum. Solar maximum is the period when the sun's magnetic field lines are the most distorted due to the magnetic field on the solar equator rotating at a slightly faster pace than at the solar poles. The sun takes about 11 years to go from one solar maximum to another and 22 years to complete a full cycle (where the magnetic charge on the poles is the same).
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[edit] Historic maximums
The last solar maximum was in 2001, and on March 10, 2006 NASA researchers announced that the next cycle would be the strongest since the historic maximum in 1958 in which northern lights could be seen as far south as Mexico. [1] This projection was based on research done by Mausumi Dikpati of the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR).
[edit] Film
There is an IMAX documentary about solar maximum called Solarmax.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0177240/ - IMDB entry on Solarmax IMAX documentary
- NASA: Solar Storm Warning
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| Structure: Solar Core - Radiation Zone - Convection Zone |
| Atmosphere - Photosphere - Chromosphere - Transition region - Corona |
| Extended Structure: Termination Shock - Heliosphere - Heliopause - Heliosheath - Bow Shock |
| Solar Phenomena: Sunspots - Faculae - Granules - Supergranulation - Solar Wind - Spicules |
| Coronal loops - Solar Flares - Solar Prominences - Coronal Mass Ejections |
| Moreton Waves - Coronal Holes |
| Other: Solar System - Solar Variation - Solar Dynamo - Heliospheric Current Sheet - Solar Radiation - Solar Eclipse |
