NASA - STEREO Spies First Major Activity of Solar Cycle 24
NASA - STEREO Spies First Major Activity of Solar Cycle 24 By: Laura Layton Saturday, June 6th 2009 NASA′s Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory (STEREO) spacecraft has spotted the first major activity of the new solar cycle. On May 5, 2009, STEREO-B observed a Type II radio burst and a bright, fast coronal mass ejection (CME) emanating from the far side of the sun. The activity originated in a solar active region that rotated into view from Earth on May 8. The following is a detailed look at the initial report from NASA. A Type II radio burst is a discharge of radio waves that are emitted when shocks are accelerated by a CME—the sudden eruption of energy and solar material. The active region appears well above the sun′s equator, at about 30 degrees latitude, which indicates it is part of the new solar cycle. Activity from the previous solar cycle would appear nearer to the sun′s equator. These regions also have a distinct magnetic organization characteristic of new cycle region...