Sun Mysteriously Goes All Quiet Just When Its Activity Should Be Highest

[ChrisSmolinski]

Almost every measure of solar activity flatlined over the weekend. The event, though not unprecedented, is odd considering that our local star has just passed what is supposed to be the peak of its solar cycle, when activity is at its highest.  “It really underscores this solar cycle playing out as being pretty benign,” said Robert Rutledge, lead of the forecast office at the NOAA/National Weather Service Space Weather Prediction Center. “This has been by any measure a really pretty quiet cycle, and I think we shouldn’t expect the second half to be any different.”

The sun goes through a natural 11-year variation called the solar cycle. Periods of high activity generally coincide with increased numbers of sunspots and energetic bursts such as flares and coronal mass ejections. Before it started, scientists’ predictions for this solar cycle ranged from very eventful to rather lackluster. 

“Quite frankly, we’re not very good at solar cycle predictions,” said Rutledge. 

Full article: http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2013/09/sun-all-quiet/

[SingleSideburn]

The sun may have just suffered a major heart attack.

I have some friends here in Texas who have gone through the same type thing as the sun just did--flatlined.

The sun really needs to go on a diet as soon as possible, along with a good exercise program (besides just spinning like a top).

Its weight is really out of control. In spite of all the coronal mass ejections we keep hearing about.

All I see is a lot of flab. But heck, it's still hot as heck down here in Dallas, heh.