Hinode Captures the Solar Eclipse From Orbit

July 25, 2009

Solar eclipses are awesome, and last week's Asia eclipse was no exception. In fact, it was extra-special as it was the longest solar eclipse for a century.

However, there was one eclipse spectator that appears to have been overlooked. Sure, down here on the ground, people witnessed totality and the beautiful 'diamond ring' when the moon blocks the sun in just the right way for its halo to resemble... a diamond ring. But for me, the view from space was far more satisfying...

The Fourth of July Celebrated Solar Style

July 04, 2009

The sun has been very quiet recently, but today marks an interesting change in solar behavior. A new active region has rapidly emerged (called sunspot 1024), right in time for the US Independence Day celebrations. What's more, it's exploding to life with some fireworks of its own special brand: B Class solar flares...

*Image credit: British amateur astronomer David Tyler managed to capture one of the flares from young sunspot 1024 from his backyard solar observatory in England.

Wide Angle: Solar Minimum

May 28, 2009

Looking at the sun, you'd think it has packed up and canceled its solar cycle. Apparently, Solar Cycle 24 started way back in January 2008, but there is little sign of an increase in magnetic activity that you'd expect. This is the deepest solar minimum in recent history and it is starting to cause concern.

Will the sun remain inactive for years, or decades to come? Will suddenly come to life, shocking us with an explosion of Earth-rocking solar flares?

Actually, if you look at the facts, there's little evidence to suggest either scenario. The sun is still a mystery, and this is why Discovery Space decided to run a Wide Angle on the subject.

Check out The Sun's New Low...

Oh yes, and there will be a Wide Angle video coming up... once I've worked out this video editing software...

It's Always Sunny on Discovery Space

August 28, 2008

Admit it -- You know the sun is freakin' awesome.

Because of its awesomeness, I've helped cook up some super-sunny stuff during the past couple of weeks for you to watch, poke through and read!

Check out the list below, and don't forget your sunglasses... Ok, that was really lame. Your condescending hatemail can be addressed to DiscoverySpace@Discovery.com

• Gallery: Hottest Solar Images - Ooo la la, what have we here? Some of the hottest images of the Sun ever. You know you wanna peek...

• My Take: Solar Pains in the @$$ - What could happen to our petty little civilization during a solar storm? Check out this expert's take on the situation.

• Video: Solar Maximum - Solar maximum is upon us in a couple of years. What the dilly-o does that mean, though? Watch this video.

• Video: SDO Shines Light on the Sun - Scientists use nifty spacecraft to monitor the Sun, but they ain't got nothin' on NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory that's being readied to launch.

That's it for now -- stay tuned for more cool space stuff!