Watch.

topic posted Fri, July 3, 2009 - 7:15 PM by  Manjushri
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posted by:
Manjushri
Oregon
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  • Re: Watch.

    Fri, July 3, 2009 - 7:40 PM
    Please provide an explanation of what we're looking at here... besides the sun, that is.
    • Re: Watch.

      Sat, July 4, 2009 - 1:16 PM
      "Please provide an explanation of what we're looking at here... besides the sun, that is. "

      NASA's SSC Images of the Sun. COR2 Satellite. Yes, the Big one is the Sun... The other object looks several times the Size of Earth... and is NOT a Comet...
      Your Guess is as good as Mine...
      • Re: Watch.

        Sat, July 4, 2009 - 1:18 PM
        SSC = Stereo Science Center

        From the Website.

        "Welcome to the STEREO Science Center

        The STEREO Science Center serves the following functions:

        1. Archive for STEREO telemetry, mission support data, and higher level instrument data and analysis software.
        2. Processing center for STEREO space weather beacon data.
        3. Focal point for science coordination.
        4. Focal point for education and public outreach activities.

        This website serves the first three of the above functions, and is designed to be used by scientists and the operations team. For more general information about the STEREO mission, including education and public outreach, please also visit our main STEREO website."
        • Re: Watch.

          Sat, July 4, 2009 - 1:19 PM
          "This day includes data derived from the STEREO space weather beacon telemetry, which is a very low rate, highly compressed data stream broadcast by the spacecraft 24 hours per day. These data are used for space weather forecasting. Because of the large compression factors used, these beacon images are of much lower quality than the actual science data."
          • Re: Watch.

            Sat, July 4, 2009 - 1:20 PM
            "Image of the solar corona, taken by the SECCHI outer coronagraph (COR2)
            on the STEREO Behind observatory on July 3, 2009 at 00:08:43 UT.
            This image was produced from the STEREO space weather beacon telemetry.
            Because of the high amount of compression used for the space weather beacon,
            the image quality is far lower than in the final science product."

            Caption from Pictures on the Website...

            Not much to go on Folks...
            • Re: Watch.

              Sat, July 4, 2009 - 1:42 PM
              stereo-ssc.nascom.nasa.gov/brow...2.mpg

              Doesn't Look like the Sun was "hit"
              • Re: Watch.

                Sat, July 4, 2009 - 3:49 PM
                But Check out this... For Yesterday...

                science.nasa.gov/headlines...eather.htm

                :Product: 20090703events.txt
                :Created: 2009 Jul 04 2102 UT
                :Date: 2009 07 03
                # Prepared by the U.S. Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction Center
                # Please send comments and suggestions to SWPC.Webmaster@noaa.gov
                #
                # Missing data: ////
                # Updated every 30 minutes.
                # Edited Events for 2009 Jul 03
                #
                #Event Begin Max End Obs Q Type Loc/Frq Particulars Reg#
                #-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                900 + 2025 //// 2048 PAL U RSP 025-088 III/1

                910 + 2305 2308 2310 G10 5 XRA 1-8A B1.3 2.8E-05 1024

                920 + 2349 2354 2358 G10 5 XRA 1-8A B3.2 1.1E-04 1024
                -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                For Today, So Far...

                -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                :Product: 20090704events.txt
                :Created: 2009 Jul 04 2202 UT
                :Date: 2009 07 04
                # Prepared by the U.S. Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction Center
                # Please send comments and suggestions to SWPC.Webmaster@noaa.gov
                #
                # Missing data: ////
                # Updated every 30 minutes.
                # Edited Events for 2009 Jul 04
                #
                #Event Begin Max End Obs Q Type Loc/Frq Particulars Reg#
                #-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                930 + 0102 0119 0126 G10 5 XRA 1-8A B3.6 3.0E-04 1024
                930 + 0104 //// 0108 LEA C RSP 025-180 III/1 1024

                1040 0123 //// 0124 PAL U RSP 025-152 III/1

                940 0208 0213 0220 G10 5 XRA 1-8A B4.7 2.2E-04 1024
                940 0208 0212 0213 LEA 3 FLA S27E15 SF DSD 1024

                950 0246 0304 0307 G10 5 XRA 1-8A B3.7 2.7E-04

                960 0308 //// 0308 PAL C RSP 025-180 III/1

                970 0429 0437 0442 G10 5 XRA 1-8A B8.3 4.3E-04 1024
                970 0437 0438 0442 LEA 3 FLA S26E11 SF DSD 1024

                980 + 0600 0606 0613 G10 5 XRA 1-8A B2.1 1.2E-04 1024

                990 + 0748 0752 0756 G10 5 XRA 1-8A B2.8 8.9E-05 1024

                1000 + 0941 0944 0946 G10 5 XRA 1-8A B1.2 2.8E-05 1024

                1010 + 1159 1207 1214 G10 5 XRA 1-8A B3.1 1.9E-04 1024

                1020 + 1231 1234 1238 G10 5 XRA 1-8A B2.0 7.4E-05 1024

                1030 + 1340 1355 1357 G10 5 XRA 1-8A B5.3 2.4E-04 1024

                1050 1503 1508 1512 G10 5 XRA 1-8A B4.8 1.4E-04 1024
                1050 1509 1511 A1516 HOL 3 FLA S27E06 SF ERU 1024

                1060 1611 1614 1616 G10 5 XRA 1-8A B1.5 2.7E-05

                -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                How to Read it...

                -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                December 26, 2007

                EDITED SOLAR EVENTS LISTS


                This directory contains the last 60 daily files of preliminary solar
                event reports received at SWPC and manually reviewed and edited by the
                duty forecaster. SWPC compiles these lists from preliminary reports
                received from contributing stations. Incorrect, missed, and incomplete
                reports are possible.

                Files for the current full year, and earlier years are online from 1996.
                See the SWPC FTP server ftp.swpc.noaa.gov at /pub/warehouse or via a
                web browser: www.swpc.noaa.gov/ftpmenu/warehouse.html

                Today's list is updated every 30 minutes at 2 and 32 minutes past the hour.
                Yesterday's list is updated every 3 hours, and the lists for the past 3 days
                are recreated daily at 0302 to pick up late additions or changes.

                Filename format: YEARMODAevents.txt -- 4 digit year, 2 digit month, 2 digit day.
                In addition, "events.txt" contains the current day's list.
                "yesterday.txt" contains the previous day's list.

                A subset, called the "energetic events" is available in other SWPC products.
                Solar Geophysical Activity Summary (SGAS)
                swpc.noaa.gov/ftpmenu/for...ts/SGAS.html

                Daily Space Weather Event Reports
                swpc.noaa.gov/ftpmenu/ind.../dayevt.html

                SWPC's WEEKLY publication, in Adobe PDF format
                swpc.noaa.gov/weekly/


                A sample list and descriptions of each field are included below.
                The format is fixed, 80 columns wide, with standard headers.
                If no events are reported a single line is shown
                NO EVENT REPORTS.

                Previous user notices are at the bottom of this file.

                Your comments and suggestions are welcome.
                SWPC.Webmaster@noaa.gov

                ========================================================================

                Sample Report from 2005 showing high solar activity. Note our name changed
                from Space Environment Center to Space Weather Prediction Center in October 2007.
                ********************************************************************************

                :Product: 20050316events.txt
                :Created: 2005 Mar 17 1802 UT
                :Date: 2005 03 16
                # Prepared by the U.S. Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Environment Center.
                # Please send comments and suggestions to SEC.Webmaster@noaa.gov
                #
                # Missing data: ////
                # Updated every 30 minutes.
                # Edited Events for 2005 Mar 16
                #
                #Event Begin Max End Obs Q Type Loc/Frq Particulars Reg#
                #-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                1590 0318 0318 0318 LEA G RBR 245 51

                1620 + 0348 //// 1635 COM C RSP 30-80 CTM/1

                1600 + 0408 0410 0412 LEA G RBR 245 210

                1730 + 0422 1214 1511 COM G RNS 245 160

                1610 0522 0528 0532 G10 5 XRA 1-8A B4.2 1.9E-04

                1630 0741 0744 0748 G10 5 XRA 1-8A B1.9 7.3E-05
                1630 0741 //// 0743 SVI C RSP 025-089 III/1

                1640 1052 //// 1053 SVI U RSP 025-046 III/1

                1650 1125 1125 1125 SVI G RBR 245 85
                1650 1125 1125 1125 SVI G RBR 410 46

                1660 1150 //// 1150 SVI C RSP 025-041 III/1

                1670 + 1205 1208 1210 G12 5 XRA 1-8A B3.5 8.1E-05 0742
                1670 1206 1206 1209 SAG G RBR 245 100 0742
                1670 1207 1207 1207 SAG G RBR 410 56 0742
                1670 1209 1210 1210 G12 5 XFL S02W48 3.0E+02 6.5E+02 0742
                1670 1210 //// 2228 SAG C RSP 110-180 CTM/1 0742

                1680 + 1217 1221 1223 G12 5 XRA 1-8A B5.1 1.4E-04 0742
                1680 + 1219 1219 1219 SVI G RBR 410 310 0742
                1680 1221 1222 1223 G12 5 XFL S03W50 7.5E+02 2.3E+03 0742

                1690 + 1242 1245 1247 G12 5 XRA 1-8A B3.1 7.7E-05 0742
                1690 1246 1246 1247 G12 5 XFL S07W48 4.3E+02 9.1E+02 0742

                1700 + 1306 //// 1306 SAG C RSP 030-053 III/1

                1710 + 1318 1322 1332 G12 5 XRA 1-8A B3.0 2.3E-04 0742
                1710 1322 1327 1331 G12 5 XFL S07W53 2.3E+02 4.6E+02 0742

                1720 + 1339 //// 1339 SVI C RSP 025-034 III/1

                1750 1450 //// 1451 SVI C RSP 025-180 III/1

                1760 + 1542 1547 1554 G12 5 XRA 1-8A B3.8 2.1E-04 0742
                1760 + 1544 1544 1546 SAG G RBR 245 380 0742
                1760 + 1544 //// 1545 SAG C RSP 030-180 III/1 0742
                1760 1546 1550 1553 G12 5 XFL S07W54 4.8E+02 1.0E+03 0742

                1770 1633 //// 1634 SAG C RSP 030-050 III/1

                1780 1755 //// 1756 SAG C RSP 030-053 III/1

                1790 + 1851 //// 1851 PAL C RSP 025-085 III/1

                1800 + 1947 1953 1959 G12 5 XRA 1-8A B5.9 3.3E-04 0742
                1800 1952 1957 1957 G12 5 XFL S06W57 7.3E+02 1.8E+03 0742

                1810 + 2029 2034 2036 G12 5 XRA 1-8A B5.3 1.6E-04 0742
                1810 + 2030 //// 2032 CUL C RSP 20-350 III/2 0742
                1810 2033 2033 2035 G12 5 XFL S07W54 7.8E+02 2.0E+03 0742
                1810 + 2035 2035 2035 PAL G RBR 245 110 0742
                1810 2035 2035 2035 PAL G RBR 410 63 0742

                1820 + 2049 2053 2056 G12 5 XRA 1-8A B3.6 1.3E-04 0742
                1820 2051 //// 2051 CUL C RSP 40-160 III/1 0742
                1820 2053 2053 2053 G12 5 XFL S02W55 1.8E+02 3.3E+02 0742

                1830 + 2116 2116 2116 PAL G RBR 245 630 1830 + 2116 2116 2116 PAL G RBR 410 130
                1830 2116 2116 2116 PAL G RBR 606 67
                1830 2116 //// 2116 CUL C RSP 40-460 III/2

                1840 + 2304 2314 2316 G12 5 XRA 1-8A B9.8 4.6E-04 0742
                1840 2309 2313 2316 G12 5 XFL S07W56 2.0E+03 5.3E+03 0742
                1840 2313 2313 2318 HOL 3 FLA S06W52 SF ERU 0742
                1840 2313 //// 2315 PAL C RSP 025-180 V/1 0742
                1840 + 2314 2314 2314 PAL G RBR 245 160 0742
                1840 + 2314 2314 2314 PAL G RBR 410 1700 0742
                1840 + 2314 //// 2315 CUL C RSP 18-500 III/3 0742

                ********************************************************************************
                DESCRIPTION:
                The first line is the filename.
                The second line indicates the date/time the list was created.
                The third line contains the date of the data. Each file (list) contains one UTC day.
                Lines that begin with # are header lines.


                Event - This is an arbitrary event number assigned by SWPC. It groups several
                reports into a single event, as determined by the SWPC forecaster.
                + - A plus sign (+) after the event number indicates that more than one
                report was received for this event, and the forecaster has selected
                this report to represent those received.

                Begin, Max, End -
                The UTC Time (Coordinate Universal Time, same as UT) of the beginning,
                maximum, and end of the event as reported by the observing site.
                "////" indicates a missing time.
                The UTC day of the event's begin time is the UTC day of the list.
                The UTC day of the maximum and/or end times may or may not be the same
                as the begin time. Most solar events are several hours in duration. If
                the maximum or end time is less than the begin time, then assume the
                times are for the next UTC day. A single letter can proceed a Begin, Max,
                or End time. A=after, B=before, U=uncertain. For example the begin time
                A0146 means the event began after 0146.

                The begin time of an x-ray event is defined as the first minute, in a
                sequence of 4 minutes, of steep monotonic increase in 0.1-0.8 nm flux.
                The x-ray event maximum is taken as the minute of the peak x-ray flux.
                The end time is the time when the flux level decays to a point halfway
                between the maximum flux and the pre-flare background level.

                The begin time of an SXI flare (XFL) is minutes following the associated
                x-ray event. The maximum time is the most intense period in the brightest
                region of the SXI image. The end time is the last SXI image before the X-ray
                event end time.

                Obs - The reporting observatory.
                CUL - Culgoora, Australia
                HOL - Holloman AFB, NM, USA LEA - Learmonth, Australia
                PAL - Palahua, HI, USA RAM - Ramey AFB, PR, USA
                SAG - Sagamore Hill, MA, USA SVI - San Vito, Italy
                Events from GOES satellites data show the SWPC Primary or Secondary
                GOES spacecraft for the observatory, e.g. G12

                (See the "Station Lists" directory in the "Welcome" directory for
                more information.)

                Q - Quality
                For radio bursts at fixed and sweep frequencies, and for storms, this
                shows the quality of the data
                C = Corrected report
                G = Good
                U = Uncertain
                For optical flares, this shows the quality of observing conditions,
                from 1 to 5, where: 1 = very poor and 5 = excellent

                X-ray events and SXI flare have a quality of 5 (meaning excellent).

                Type - Type of report, see www.swpc.noaa.gov/info/glossary.html
                BSL = Bright surge on the limb
                DSF = Filament disappearance
                EPL = Eruptive prominence on the limb
                FIL = Filament
                FLA = Optical flare observed in H-alpha
                FOR = Forbush decrease (cosmic ray decrease))
                GLE = Ground-level event (cosmic ray increase)
                LPS = Loop prominence system
                PCA = Polar cap absorption
                RBR = Fixed-frequency radio burst
                RNS = Radio Noise Storm
                RSP = Sweep-frequency radio burst
                SPY = Spray
                XFL = SXI X-ray flare from GOES Solar X-ray Imager (SXI)
                XRA = X-ray event from SWPC's Primary or Secondary GOES spacecraft

                Loc/Frq - Location or frequency.
                Location is in degrees latitude, north or south, and degrees longitude,
                east or west, from central meridian. The location is the spherical,
                heliographic coordinates of the solar region, as a distance in degrees
                from a line extending from the solar equator (heliographic latitude),
                and distance in degrees from a line extending from the north solar
                rotational pole to the south solar rotational pole through the center
                of the solar disk, as viewed from Earth (central meridian) in H-alpha.

                Frequencies are in Mhz.

                Particulars - Additional information from the report, chosen on the basis of
                the report type.


                XRA: X-ray Class
                Class x = peak flux in the 0.1 to 0.8 nm range
                In mks system In cgs system
                Wm-2 erg cm-2 s-1
                A x < 10-7 x < 10-4
                B 10-7 <= x < 10-6 10-4 <= x < 10-3
                C 10-6 <= x < 10-5 10-3 <= x < 10-2
                M 10-5 <= x < 10-4 10-2 <= x < 10-1
                X 10-4 <= x 10-1 <= x

                Integrated flux from start to end, in joules m E-2.

                FLA: Importance and brightness
                Importance is the corrected area of the flare in heliospheric
                square degrees at maximum brightness, observed in the H-alpha
                line (656.3 nm).
                S - Subflare (area < or =2.0 square degrees).
                1 - Importance 1 ( 2.1 <= area <= 5.1 square degrees)
                2 - Importance 2 ( 5.2 <= area <= 12.4 square degrees)
                3 - Importance 3 (12.5 <= area <= 24.7 square degrees)
                4 - Importance 4 ( area >= 24.8 square degrees)

                Brightness is the relative maximum brightness of flare in H-alpha.
                F - faint N - normal B - brilliant

                Flare Characteristics

                VWL = Visible in white light
                UMB = Greater than or equal to 20 percent umbral coverage
                PRB = Parallel ribbon
                LPS = Associated Loop Prominence (LPS)
                YSR = Y-shaped ribbon
                ERU = Several eruptive centers
                BPT = One or more brilliant points
                HSS = Associated high speed dark or bright surge
                DSD = Dark surge on the disk
                DSF = Flare followed the disappearance of a solar filament in the
                same region
                BLU = H-alpha emission greater in the blue wing than in the red wing

                XFL: maximum area (e.g., 1.6e+03) and max intensity (e.g., 1.5e+05).

                RBR:
                The peak value above pre-burst background of associated radio bursts
                at frequencies 245, 410, 610, 1415, 2695, 4995, 8800 and 15400 MHz:
                1 flux unit = 10-22 Wm-2 Hz-1

                RSP:
                The intensity is a relative scale from 1 (low) to 3 (high) of
                any sweep radio event associated with the energetic event, as follows

                Type II: Slow drift burst
                Type III: Fast drift burst
                Type IV: Broadband smooth continuum burst
                Type V: Brief continuum burst, generally associated with Type III bursts
                Type CTM: Broadband, long-lived, dekametric continuum

                Shock speed in km/s


                Reg# - The SWPC-assigned solar region number. The daily SWPC Solar Region
                Summary report contains detailed information about solar regions.
                see swpc.noaa.gov/ftpmenu/forecasts/SRS.html

                For optical events, region numbers are assigned by the observatory.
                Region numbers are assigned to X-ray events by SWPC staff.

                For SXI flares, an SWPC algorithm finds the brightest area in the SXI
                image and assigns the region number of the closest active solar region.
                A region number is assigned to off-disk, west limb events if the region
                recently rotated around the limb.



                ==========================================================================
                ==========================================================================
                ==========================================================================
                USER NOTICES

                ========================================================================
                SEC Secondary GOES Spacecraft Change

                June 19, 2006 -- At 1400UT, June 22, the SEC secondary GOES satellite
                for magnetometer, X-ray, and electron measurements will change from
                GOES 10 to GOES 11. GOES 12 will continue as the primary SEC GOES
                satellite. For energetic proton measurements there is no change;
                GOES 11 will remain the primary SEC GOES satellite and GOES 10 will
                remain the secondary. SEC products that include magnetometer, X-ray,
                and electron measurements from the secondary SWPC GOES satellite will
                change at that time. See details at www.swpc.noaa.gov/goes.html

                In the Edited Solar Events Lists, the Observatory field for events
                from the GOES primary and secondary satellites will be G12 and G11.
                ===========================================================================

                January 5, 2004 -- GOES Solar X-ray Imager (SXI) flare (XFL) reports were
                added to the Edited Solar Events Lists. SXI flares from GOES-12 provide
                valuable flare location and other information, especially when no optical
                observations are available. SEC developed the SXI flare algorithm, triggered
                by GOES X-ray events, which finds the brightest area in the latest SXI image
                and assigns the region number of the closest active solar region. A region
                number is assigned to off-disk, west limb events if the region recently
                rotated around the limb. Near-real-time SXI images and a description of the
                GOES SXI instrument are at swpc.noaa.gov/sxi/

                ========================================================================
                September 8, 2003 -- The Filament disappearance (Type = DSF) reports now
                have an associated location. See description on Loc/Frq below.

                ========================================================================
                GOES Satellite Changes

                On May 15, 2003 GOES-12 became SEC's primary GOES satellite, and GOES 10
                the backup. Event Lists show GOES 12 and GOES 10 XRA events.
                See details at www.swpc.noaa.gov/GOES.html
                ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
                :Product: 20090701events.txt
                :Created: 2009 Jul 04 2132 UT
                :Date: 2009 07 01
                # Prepared by the U.S. Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction Center
                # Please send comments and suggestions to SWPC.Webmaster@noaa.gov
                #
                # Missing data: ////
                # Updated every 30 minutes.
                # Edited Events for 2009 Jul 01
                #
                #Event Begin Max End Obs Q Type Loc/Frq Particulars Reg#
                #-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                NO EVENT REPORTS.

                ----------------------

                :Product: 20090630events.txt
                :Created: 2009 Jul 03 2332 UT
                :Date: 2009 06 30
                # Prepared by the U.S. Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction Center
                # Please send comments and suggestions to SWPC.Webmaster@noaa.gov
                #
                # Missing data: ////
                # Updated every 30 minutes.
                # Edited Events for 2009 Jun 30
                #
                #Event Begin Max End Obs Q Type Loc/Frq Particulars Reg#
                #-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                NO EVENT REPORTS.
                ---------------------
                :Product: 20090629events.txt
                :Created: 2009 Jul 02 2332 UT
                :Date: 2009 06 29
                # Prepared by the U.S. Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction Center
                # Please send comments and suggestions to SWPC.Webmaster@noaa.gov
                #
                # Missing data: ////
                # Updated every 30 minutes.
                # Edited Events for 2009 Jun 29
                #
                #Event Begin Max End Obs Q Type Loc/Frq Particulars Reg#
                #-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                NO EVENT REPORTS.


                www.swpc.noaa.gov/ftpmenu/i...vents.html
                • Re: Watch.

                  Sat, July 4, 2009 - 3:50 PM
                  And here is the X-Ray Data... Which is WAY up since July 1-3rd

                  www.swpc.noaa.gov/today.html#satenv
                  • This is the maximum depth. Additional responses will not be threaded.

                    Re: Watch.

                    Sat, July 4, 2009 - 3:51 PM
                    • Re: Watch.

                      Sat, July 4, 2009 - 6:49 PM
                      Well the Geomagnetic looks fine...
                      www.swpc.noaa.gov/alerts/k-index.html
                      But X-Ray is still going nuts...
                      www.swpc.noaa.gov/rt_plots/xray_5m.html
                      • Re: Watch.

                        Mon, July 6, 2009 - 1:19 PM
                        Looks like I was Right... It Did NOT Hit...

                        stereo-ssc.nascom.nasa.gov/brow...2.mpg

                        stereo-ssc.nascom.nasa.gov/brow...2.mpg

                        Hmm...
                        • Re:

                          Tue, July 7, 2009 - 6:27 PM
                          If there was any interaction with the Sun, there would be a visible signature of this interaction, not just a reflection off the surface of the object, (especially considering the size of it). Hence, we can conclude that the "intention" of it was to go behind the star.

                          Now, Sun is 109 times larger than Earth by diameter, (according to NASA - www.nasa.gov/worldbook/e...rldbook.html ), this means that Earth could fit 109 times across the Sun. So, if we use our mice's pointers and try to count how many times that dot actually fits across the real time video of the Sun, we can count about 30, (give or take 2-3). Our conclusion then is that the object is definitely larger than our planet Earth, (at least 3 times).
                          So, we can either go and Google the sizes of all outer rim planets and use our built-in Microsoft calculators on our machines, (I've done that - the name(s) come(s) in a sec.), to calculate the difference, or we can pay a bit more attention to the video and notice that the time span of the video is 24 hours, roughly. This means that if we were to sit and watch the damn thing for a whole day, we would probably end up quietly picking our noses while silently staring at a wall in the room by the end of it.
                          Hence, the conclusion:
                          The object in the video is the size of a planet, at least three times bigger than that of the Earth. It moves slowly across the sky, (I could even calculate the relative distance it passed, (we have all the data - time and reference of the Sun's diameter along with the approximation of the dot's diameter; I'll leave it to those who's got nothing else to do tonight and are eager to "kill" a couple of minutes. I am too busy right now - gotta finish my beers, throw my ass into the ocean, surf the Internet, and all that other important stuff a gentleman usually does on a busy day like this).
                          So, the only two planets that are in that range of the size are Neptune and Uranus, with roughly 28.1 and 27.2 times respectively, (across the Sun).

                          Sources:
                          www.nasa.gov/worldbook/s...rldbook.html
                          www.nasa.gov/worldbook/n...rldbook.html
                          www.nasa.gov/worldbook/u...rldbook.html

                          ....


                          However, to an inquisitive mind it is inescapable, (aside from my obviously despicable brilliance), that the orbits of the two are way far "in the back", and I am not sure if passage of any of the two would be so sharply evident even to a telescope, not to mention the amount of light reflected off the surface of the object, which, to me at least, speaks of a very close proximity to the star, (however, I am not a professional yet, so don't quote me on that). Somebody more accomplished than myself would give you a better breakdown.

                          Thus, what have we got now?...

                          Well, I don't know. I am too lazy to think right now; besides, that singing lady at the bar down the street is making so much noise with that 60's hippy music that I really wanna go now...

                          ….


                          P.S. Dear NASA employees, ( I know you watch/read here closely and often), if you could weigh in you valuable opinion(s) it would be great. No, really, it would.

                          But, for now, to the rest of you/us simple mortals - sorry folks, no alien spaceships. (Dammit!)



                          • Re:

                            Tue, July 7, 2009 - 7:35 PM
                            english.pravda.ru/society/a...viet_ufo-0

                            Spaceships! :D

                            lol @ Pravda. That website is a lot of fun. But I definitely reserve the right to remain skeptical about things claimed there. Still, hilarity.... Cosmonauts picturing themselves becoming aliens and other animals.

                            "Psychologists often warn cosmonauts prior to their space missions that they may experience a phenomenon known as the altered state of consciousness. A Russian cosmonaut said in 1994 that he and his partner had numerous visions when they were working on board the Mir station for six months. It seemed to them that they were turning into weird creatures – animals and even humanoids of extraterrestrial origin."


                            I think one thing we all can agree on is space is still mysterious and astronomy can be fascinating. I was outdoor all night on the 4th-5th and the view was beyond beautiful.
                            • Re:

                              Wed, July 8, 2009 - 5:32 PM
                              Totally.
                              Without a doubt it is one of the most fascinating topics I can personally think of. I went to the beach to watch the fireworks. The sky was clear, barely any breeze... Beautiful.


                        • Re: Watch.

                          Fri, July 10, 2009 - 12:24 PM
                          There was CME on July 6-7th.

                          soho.esac.esa.int/data/LATE...ent_c3.mpg

                          That is a Current Live Feed... 4th-10th as of posting...
                          • Re: Watch.

                            Fri, July 10, 2009 - 12:33 PM
                            Sun Spot 1024 and The CME probably have nothing to do with the Previous Video of the Mystery Object...

                            Could be a Planet, But I don't See how that could be given the angles of the telemetry. Also, Any Planet that size would be beyond the Asteroid Belt, Uranus and Neptune are further out than Jupiter or Saturn and would Appear Much Smaller, Not it's Actual Size in relationship to the Sun. In other Words if the object was at the actual orbit of Neptune, It would have to be Several Times the Size of Neptune to be Appear to be the Same Size in Actual Relationship.

                            It was not a Comet, It had no Tail.
                            • Re: Watch.

                              Fri, July 10, 2009 - 1:37 PM
                              Well, It was not Mercury... Or any other Planet... There were none behind the Sun...Though Mercury was close... It does not go behind the sun until the 12-14th of July...
                              • Re: Watch.

                                Fri, July 10, 2009 - 3:02 PM
                                Just About to Post the Pictures From Starry Night Online... Showing No Planet that close to the Sun or Passing behind it... The only close one is Mercury, which does not Cross that Area Behind the Sun until 13-15th. And Was not Near the Sun on the 1st-6th for sure...
                            • Re: Watch.

                              Fri, July 10, 2009 - 3:08 PM
                              <<...Any Planet that size would be beyond the Asteroid Belt, Uranus and Neptune ... further out than Jupiter or Saturn and would Appear Much Smaller...>>

                              This is exactly what I pointed out in my reply, Manjushri B. Re-read the last few sentences.
                              The only -somewhat- definite pro- in regards to it being a planet is the speed it was moving with, the time lapse of 24 hours. The next down is the size comparison.
                              ...
                              Calculate the distance it had made and find out the speed it was moving with, then, go and Google the orbital speeds of all planets and compare them. If it fits any - ding-ding!, you've got your cookie, if not, well, that was an alien space station the size of a planet three times more massive than Earth, quietly orbiting on the opposite side of, say, Earth's orbit, and acting as if everything is just fine, and just should be this way. So, you still got your cookie, only this time with almonds(!).
                              ...

                              How about that? ;)

                              • Re: Watch.

                                Fri, July 10, 2009 - 3:53 PM
                                "This is exactly what I pointed out in my reply, Manjushri B. Re-read the last few sentences.
                                The only -somewhat- definite pro- in regards to it being a planet is the speed it was moving with, the time lapse of 24 hours. The next down is the size comparison."

                                I wasn't Replying to You... I was Aware of what you had said... Geez... Don't be a Narcissist. ;p

                                I would Have Quoted you, most likel,y if it was Directed to you... Or Mentioned Serge...

                                But anyway, there were No Known Planets in the Area of the Sun on that Day Anyway... Go to Space.com or here Follow this link...

                                www.space.com/snserver/sn...&Explore=No&

                                That one Will be From Eugene, on July 4th... But you can Change that if you want...

                                Also... I have a Size Comparison Chart in my Profile Photos... (I will Post it Here) It is Smaller than Jupiter around 6-8x the Size of Earth... So Neptune and Uranus would be Good Candidates.... IF they were anywhere near the sun During the Captured Video Feed... But they Were not... Soooooooo.... The Rest is arbitrary...

                                Yes, it would be Very Easy to Find the Orbital Speed of Said Object. It took 5 Days to Transverse the View Angle of the Camera....
                                But Once Again... With No Planets near the Sun on that day, According to Stellarium, adAstra, Starry Night, and Google Earth(Sky)(I did not Check World Wide Telescope yet...) It does not Seem to Matter... Though I would be Interesting... I can already Tell you it is Faster than Mercury, Which is the Fastest of the Known Planets...

                                I like the Cookie Analogy... But yeah.... Not A Known Planet, Friend... None were near the Sun in there Orbits during those Days. Mercury was close. But Does not Go Behind the Sun until July 14th or so...

                                So, Not a Comet, Not A Planet...
                                And Asteroid? That big... Nope... Most Likely Not... I guess maybe if it was from the oort Cloud, Though No Known Objects of that Size have been Confirmed...
                                • Re: Watch.

                                  Fri, July 10, 2009 - 3:58 PM
                                  Oh, And of Course since it Did Go Behind... It was not an Optical Illusion of Mercury "Seeming" to be larger than it is by passing in front of the camera between it and the sun... Not Directed to any one... LOL

                                  Om A Ra Pa Ca Na Dhih, Dhih, Dhih
                                  • Re: Watch.

                                    Sat, July 11, 2009 - 10:57 AM
                                    Some More on Sun Spot 1024...
                                    " The biggest sunspot in two years, sunspot 1024, has rotated over the sun's western limb and is no longer visible from Earth. But that doesn't mean the sunspot has disappeared. Here it is in an ultraviolet photo taken just a few hours ago by NASA's STEREO-A spacecraft:"
                                    "STEREO-A is stationed over the sun's western horizon where it can monitor sunspots no longer visible from Earth. The spacecraft will track sunspot 1024 for as much as four more days, gathering valuable data on the sunspot's rate of growth or decay. Indeed, if the sunspot can hold itself together for only two more weeks, the sun's rotation will carry it around to face Earth once again. Stay tuned for updates from around the bend."

                                    And Remember that the Object original video was only seen from STEREO-B Satellite... It was not Viewable from Earth or STEREO-A.
                                    Interesting Huh...
                                    • Re: Watch.

                                      Sun, July 12, 2009 - 5:52 PM
                                      Well, Since it was the Stereo B Satellite, it could be Mercury... Looking at the Data from June 29th, 2009 for the positions of the Satellites.
            • Re: Watch.

              Sat, July 4, 2009 - 1:46 PM
              Stickboy said: "Dude, it's obviously Nibiru!!!!"

              Those who actually believe in Nibiru are also likely to believe in astrology. I wonder if any astrologers are working the movements of Nibiru into their horoscopes? Remember about 3 years ago a Russian astrologer tried to sue NASA because they crashed the Deep Impact probe into an asteroid and disturbed her. So a planet approaching should affect the zodiac too.
  • Possibly Mercury

    Wed, July 15, 2009 - 7:55 AM
    Yep, it could have been Mercury. The more I think of it, (when and if I do), the most probable, (without wishful thinking about Zzzorg and our bubbas from outer space, that is), seems to be the Mercury version of it. Maybe there was some sort of an optic effect that magnified it, or smth. .
    ...
    To those who would need that:
    The reason Mercury is the fastest orbiting of all planets is because it is the closest one to the "neck" of the "funnel" produced by the Sun's force of gravity. Just like in a bath tub - the closer, (straws, or black pepper balls, for example), the objects to the center of the vortex, the faster they orbit it. (Those who would wish to check it out in real life, could do that the next time they are in a bath tub, ;) )
    ...

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