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Course: NOVA Labs > Unit 1
Lesson 4: The Sun and solar storms- Anatomy of the Sun
- Anatomy of the sun quiz
- The Sun's energy
- The Sun's energy quiz
- The dynamic Sun
- The dynamic Sun quiz
- Solar wind and storms
- Solar wind and storms quiz
- Earth's magnetic shield
- Earth's magnetic shield quiz
- The threat to earth
- The threat to Earth quiz
- The electromagnetic spectrum
- The electromagnetic spectrum quiz
- Solar space telescopes
- Solar space telescopes quiz
- How can I study the Sun?
- Introducing NOVA's Sun Lab
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Introducing NOVA's Sun Lab
Find out why we all should care about what’s happening on the Sun, and how you can do your own research using images from NASA telescopes. Investigate the sun yourself at NOVA Labs. Created by NOVA.
Want to join the conversation?
why is the sun darker now? if you look at it on helioviewer.org on different years (e.g. 2015 and 2010), you'll notice that before it was brighter - why?(3 votes)
So, will solar storms hurt people as well?(2 votes)
If such solar storm wiped out communications would radio waves be affected? Also are scientists researching other ways to communicate other then using Satellites?(1 vote)
Hello Katrina,
This is a fascinating topic. A Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) aimed at the earth could be bad for our satellite based communications, some of the radio based communications, and our national power grid. The good news is that the global INTERNET will be OK (after the power is restored). Nearly all of the 'net uses a fiber optic backbone which will be undisturbed by the solar activity.
You may like these links:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geomagnetic_storm#Geomagnetic_storm_effects
http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/what-damage-could-be-caused-by-a-massive-solar-storm-25627394/
https://www.spaceweatherlive.com/en/help/what-are-radio-blackouts
Regards,
APD(2 votes)