Observations and inanities by a second-shift assistant supervisor in the Puppy-Grinding division of the Evil Atheist Conspiracy® (our motto: "Sure it's cruel, but think of the jobs!"), your host, Brent Rasmussen.
Awe inspiring
This link is an updating picture of the sun from the SOHO probe. It updates it's static picture several times a day and watching it is awe inspiring to me.
Over the course of the first day I had this up I watched a solar flare bigger than the earth form and disperse. Enjoy!
Bookmark/Search this post with:
people
I agree with it.
You may not believe this, but...
I was the lead programmer for the on-board Attitude and Orbital Control Software (AOCS) for the SOHO mission. This software is critical for keeping the satellite in an unstable halo orbit around the L1 Lagrange Point, and for keeping the scientific instruments pointed at the sun. Considering how rushed the project was, and how limited our resources, it gives me great pride coupled with amazement to realize that SOHO is still going strong eight years after its projected end of mission!
- No More Mr. Nice Guy!
Awe inspiring
RickU, If you really like the SOHO pictures you should check out Coronado's H-Alpha telescopes. There PST model is a great starter scope at about $500. Pictures are cool, but seeing these flares with your own eyes is really cool! There where some great ones this past weekend...