Sunspots: Theory and Observations

Sunspots: Theory and Observations
Author: J.H. Thomas
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 422
Release: 2012-12-06
Genre: Science
ISBN: 9401127697

This volume contains the invited papers presented at the NATO Advanced Research Workshop on the Theory of Sunspots, held in Cambridge, England, 22-27 September 1991. The idea of holding this Workshop first arose during the Solar Optical Telescope work shop on Theoretical Problems in High-Resolution Solar Physics in Munich in 1985. At that meeting, separate discussion groups were formed to consider specific topics in solar physics. The discussion group on sunspots recommended that there be a meeting devoted to theoretical problems associated with sunspots, the motivation being the consensus that theory seemed to lag behind the observational evidence in our quest for a satisfactory un derstanding of the physics of sunspots. This recommendation was warmly received and the two of us were designated to organize the Workshop. Although the Workshop eventually took place later than originally envisioned, the de lay turned out to be fortunate and the timing of the Workshop was ideal for a number of reasons. There have been remarkable improvements in high-resolution observations of sunspots in the past few years, and many important new observational results were pre sented for the first time at this Workshop (by groups working at the Lockheed Palo Alto Research Laboratories, the Swedish and German telescopes in the Canary Islands, and the V. S. National Solar Observatory). Vector magnetographs and Stokes polarimetry have at last given us reliable measurements of the vector magnetic fields in sunspots.

Cosmic Rays at Earth

Cosmic Rays at Earth
Author: P.K.F. Grieder
Publisher: Elsevier
Total Pages: 1117
Release: 2001-07-27
Genre: Science
ISBN: 0080530052

In 1912 Victor Franz Hess made the revolutionary discovery that ionizing radiation is incident upon the Earth from outer space. He showed with ground-based and balloon-borne detectors that the intensity of the radiation did not change significantly between day and night. Consequently, the sun could not be regarded as the sources of this radiation and the question of its origin remained unanswered. Today, almost one hundred years later the question of the origin of the cosmic radiation still remains a mystery.Hess' discovery has given an enormous impetus to large areas of science, in particular to physics, and has played a major role in the formation of our current understanding of universal evolution. For example, the development of new fields of research such as elementary particle physics, modern astrophysics and cosmology are direct consequences of this discovery. Over the years the field of cosmic ray research has evolved in various directions: Firstly, the field of particle physics that was initiated by the discovery of many so-called elementary particles in the cosmic radiation. There is a strong trend from the accelerator physics community to reenter the field of cosmic ray physics, now under the name of astroparticle physics. Secondly, an important branch of cosmic ray physics that has rapidly evolved in conjunction with space exploration concerns the low energy portion of the cosmic ray spectrum. Thirdly, the branch of research that is concerned with the origin, acceleration and propagation of the cosmic radiation represents a great challenge for astrophysics, astronomy and cosmology. Presently very popular fields of research have rapidly evolved, such as high-energy gamma ray and neutrino astronomy. In addition, high-energy neutrino astronomy may soon initiate as a likely spin-off neutrino tomography of the Earth and thus open a unique new branch of geophysical research of the interior of the Earth. Finally, of considerable interest are the biological and medical aspects of the cosmic radiation because of it ionizing character and the inevitable irradiation to which we are exposed. This book is a reference manual for researchers and students of cosmic ray physics and associated fields and phenomena. It is not intended to be a tutorial. However, the book contains an adequate amount of background materials that its content should be useful to a broad community of scientists and professionals. The present book contains chiefly a data collection in compact form that covers the cosmic radiation in the vicinity of the Earth, in the Earth's atmosphere, at sea level and underground. Included are predominantly experimental but also theoretical data. In addition the book contains related data, definitions and important relations. The aim of this book is to offer the reader in a single volume a readily available comprehensive set of data that will save him the need of frequent time consuming literature searches.

On Sunspots

On Sunspots
Author: Galileo Galilei
Publisher: University of Chicago Press
Total Pages: 431
Release: 2010-10-30
Genre: History
ISBN: 0226707164

Galileo’s telescopic discoveries, and especially his observation of sunspots, caused great debate in an age when the heavens were thought to be perfect and unchanging. Christoph Scheiner, a Jesuit mathematician, argued that sunspots were planets or moons crossing in front of the Sun. Galileo, on the other hand, countered that the spots were on or near the surface of the Sun itself, and he supported his position with a series of meticulous observations and mathematical demonstrations that eventually convinced even his rival. On Sunspots collects the correspondence that constituted the public debate, including the first English translation of Scheiner’s two tracts as well as Galileo’s three letters, which have previously appeared only in abridged form. In addition, Albert Van Helden and Eileen Reeves have supplemented the correspondence with lengthy introductions, extensive notes, and a bibliography. The result will become the standard work on the subject, essential for students and historians of astronomy, the telescope, and early modern Catholicism.

The Sun, the Earth, and Near-earth Space

The Sun, the Earth, and Near-earth Space
Author: John A. Eddy
Publisher: Government Printing Office
Total Pages: 316
Release: 2009
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 9780160838088

" ... Concise explanations and descriptions - easily read and readily understood - of what we know of the chain of events and processes that connect the Sun to the Earth, with special emphasis on space weather and Sun-Climate."--Dear Reader.

Discoveries and Opinions of Galileo

Discoveries and Opinions of Galileo
Author: Galileo
Publisher: Anchor
Total Pages: 321
Release: 1957-04-01
Genre: Science
ISBN: 0385092393

Directing his polemics against the pedantry of his time, Galileo, as his own popularizer, addressed his writings to contemporary laymen. His support of Copernican cosmology, against the Church's strong opposition, his development of a telescope, and his unorthodox opinions as a philosopher of science were the central concerns of his career and the subjects of four of his most important writings. Drake's introductory essay place them in their biographical and historical context.

The Maunder Minimum and the Variable Sun-earth Connection

The Maunder Minimum and the Variable Sun-earth Connection
Author: Willie Soon
Publisher: World Scientific
Total Pages: 300
Release: 2003
Genre: Science
ISBN: 9789812382757

An excursion through solar science, science history and geoclimate with a husband and wife team who revealed some of our sun's most stubborn secrets.

The Sun Kings

The Sun Kings
Author: Stuart Clark
Publisher: Princeton University Press
Total Pages: 224
Release: 2009-04-12
Genre: History
ISBN: 0691141266

Recounts the story behind English astronomer Richard Carrington's observations of a mysterious explosion on the surface of the sun and how his understanding that the sun's magnetism directly influences the Earth helped usher in the modern era of astronomy.

Magnetoconvection

Magnetoconvection
Author: N. O. Weiss
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Total Pages: 411
Release: 2014-10-30
Genre: Science
ISBN: 052119055X

Leading experts present the current state of knowledge of the subject of magnetoconvection from the viewpoint of applied mathematics.

Nature's Third Cycle

Nature's Third Cycle
Author: Arnab Rai Choudhuri
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
Total Pages: 295
Release: 2015
Genre: Nature
ISBN: 0199674752

The 11-year cycle of sunspots is one of the most intriguing natural cycles known to mankind. This book explores the fascinating science behind these phenomena and gives an insider's view of the history of the field.

Simon Marius and His Research

Simon Marius and His Research
Author: Hans Gaab
Publisher: Springer
Total Pages: 479
Release: 2019-06-19
Genre: Science
ISBN: 3319926217

The margravial court astronomer Simon Marius, was involved in all of the new observations made with the recently invented telescope in the early part of the seventeenth century. He also discovered the Moons of Jupiter in January 1610, but lost the priority dispute with Galileo Galilei, because he missed to publish his findings in a timely manner. The history of astronomy neglected Marius for a long time, finding only the apologists for the Copernican system worthy of attention. In contrast the papers presented on the occasion of the Simon Marius Anniversary Conference 2014, and collected in this volume, demonstrate that it is just this struggle to find the correct astronomical system that makes him particularly interesting. His research into comets, sunspots, the Moons of Jupiter and the phases of Venus led him to abandon the Ptolemaic system and adopt the Tychonic one. He could not take the final step to heliocentricity but his rejection was based on empirical arguments of his time. This volume presents a translation of the main work of Marius and shows the current state of historical research on Marius.