Japan launches Sun 'microscope'

[Leesifer]

The results of this (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/5371162.stm) should be interesting.

Well, I'm interested, anyway.

A blast of intense radiation is emitted, and charged particles are accelerated out into the Solar System. Some of these particles are moving so fast they can cover the 149 million km to Earth in just tens of minutes.

"The information that Solar-B will provide is significant for understanding and forecasting of solar disturbances, which can interfere with satellite communications, electric power transmission grids, and threaten the safety of astronauts travelling beyond the safety of the Earth's magnetic field," said John Davis, Solar-B project scientist at Nasa's Marshall centre.

[IRON MAN]

I'm still awaiting the results of this (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gravity_Probe_B#Mission_progress).


No final results until 2007 ?!

I didn't know Apple sold computers to NASA ... :waiting:

[Leesifer]

Patience grasshopper. :crick:

[IRON MAN]

http://img71.imageshack.us/img71/1815/29845llf9.jpg

[Leesifer]

:giggles:

[Corona688]

This thread shows in the index as "Japan launches Sun" and I'm thinking... "...don't we NEED that?"

[Dragar]

That's very funny Iron Man.

I'm looking forward to those results too. What with the new particle accelerators producing results soon, the next few years are going to be very exciting. :wriggle:

[ceptimus]

There are plans to launch Stereo (http://www.space.com/missionlaunches/060817_stereo_launch.html) to gather data about the sun. The launch has been delayed several times due to worries about some italy-sourced rocket components not being safe - it's now scheduled for a launch not before October 18th. The idea is to have two almost identical probes, separated by sufficient distance so that the pictures they take of the sun can be seen in 3-D.

The prominences and other features on the surface of the sun are so tangled that it's difficult to work out what is happening with normal 2-D photos. It's hoped that 3-D vision will give us a better understanding.

[Leesifer]

I didn't know about that, cep.

:hyper:

[Beth]

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/42119000/jpg/_42119326_flares_jaxa_203.jpg
http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/42119000/jpg/_42119418_flare_nasa_203.jpg

Those are breathtaking images.

Lees, I found both your article and cept's to be fascinating! I knew that something like this had been planned for the future, but I had no idea that it has already become an active mission. I cannot wait to find out more about this. The sun always seems to be such an untouchable inigma. Anyway, now we are studying space weather...people amaze me.

[ceptimus]

:bump:

Stereo launched successfully (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/6076212.stm)

[Ensign Steve]

I hope they went at night! :onfire: