The NW7US Beacon

Watch it now: an hour-long exploration of our Sun — you know, that star that I am so passionate about.

The Sun contains 99.9 percent of all the matter in our solar system.  It sheds hot plasma at nearly a million miles per hour. The temperature at its core is a staggering 27 million degrees Fahrenheit. It convulses, it blazes, it sings. You know it as the Sun.

Scientists know it as one of the most amazing physics laboratories in the universe. Now, with the help of new spacecraft and Earth-based telescopes, scientists are seeing the Sun as they never have before and even recreating what happens at its very center in labs here on Earth. Their work will help us understand aspects of the Sun that have puzzled scientists for decades. But more critically, it may help us predict and track solar storms that have the power to zap our power grid, shut down telecommunications, and ground global air travel for days, weeks, or even longer. Such storms have happened before—but never in the modern era of satellite communication. “Secrets of the Sun” by NOVA PBS reveals a bright new dawn in our understanding of our nearest star—one that might help keep our planet from going dark.

Please visit: http://SunSpotWatch.com

If you really like it, please purchase the DVD so you can have your own HD copy. Here’s the purchase link: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/space/secrets-sun.html

(I don’t make any money off of this. I just support PBS).

(Source: sunspotwatch.com)

The DIY Magic of Amateur Radio

So many people still look at ham radio as ancient and obsolete. However, we have our own satellites, we create new and innovative communications protocols, we build and invent new electronic devices, and that’s just a sampling of activity. We’re also not just about emergency communications, though that is a definite service we provide. We are a community of scientists, astronauts, teachers, students, wives, husbands, children, and clubs. Check out this video, and share it around.

This video, “The DIY Magic of Amateur Radio,” is an 8-minute video released by the ARRL that follows some of the innovative, imaginative and fun ways “hams” use radio technology in new and creative ways. The presentation is directed toward the DIY (do it yourself) movement, which is inspiring a new generation of creators, hackers and innovators. The message should be helpful for existing members to shape the ways they understand and talk about ham radio. For more information and related resources, visit http://www.arrl.org/wedothat-radio-org

From my friend, Bill:

This video took us the last 14 months. It is now available for viewing on YouTube. My personal thanks to everyone involved in its production for making it a reality. You are all listed in the credits (and I pray I didn’t forget anyone). Special thanks to our Director Dave Bell, W6AQ; our Writer Henry Feinberg, K2SSQ and our Principal Cameraman Dave Booth, KC6WFS who freely donated their time and creative talent to this project. We sincerely hope that all of you will enjoy it.

If you are interested and want to ask me about it, feel free to contact me.  You can also follow me on Twitter - @NW7US - while I have a set of topics about which I typically tweet, amateur radio is on the top of my list.  Just Tweet me your question.  I’ll do my best to answer you.  - Tomas, NW7US

(Source: nw7us.us)

As predicted active area 1339 unleashed a M-class solar flare on November 2, with a peak in X-ray emission. 

The movie shows the flare in the 131 Angstrom wavelength and shows the plasma in the corona with temperatures up to about 15 Million Kelvin! (these high temperatures are observed in solar flares) and occur when Iron is super heated, having almost all of its electrons stripped away.

(Source: youtube.com)