Earth, Moon, and the Sun
Active Sun (March 26, 2008)
 Three large sunspot groups shine brightly in this March 26 X-ray image from the orbiting SOHO solar observatory. Sunspots are relatively cool magnetic storms in the Sun's atmosphere. Sunspots have been rare over the last few years as the Sun passed through the quiet phase of its 11-year magnetic cycle. A new cycle has just started, and will build to a peak around 2013. At the cycle's peak, sunspots like these will be a common sight. The high levels of magnetic activity may affect communications with orbiting satellites, create problems with electric grids, and cause other technological mischief. [SOHO/ESA]
» More Earth, Moon, and the Sun images in the Image Gallery
News & Features
» Venus Transit the Sun In the early morning hours of June 8, 2004, Venus crossed the face of the Sun, looking like a small black dot against the bright solar disk.
» Follow the latest developments in Earth-crossing asteroids and impact craters from the pages of StarDate magazine.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can solar flares and sunspots affect Earth?
Did an asteroid really kill the dinosaurs?
How fast is Earth moving through space?
How was the size of Earth first measured?
What are sunspots?
What causes the bright halo that sometimes surrounds the Moon?
What causes the Northern and Southern Lights?
What causes tides?
What is the chance of Earth being hit by a comet or asteroid?
What is the difference between a solstice and an equinox?
What is the Moon made of?
Why do we always see the same side of the Moon from Earth?
Why does the Moon have phases?
Why does the Moon look bigger at the horizon?
Why is the distance between Earth and Moon increasing?
Why is the Moon covered with craters?
Keywords
Aphelion and Perihelion
Apogee and Perigee
Aurorae (Northern Lights)
Earth
Earth's Atmosphere
Earth's Moon
Extinction Events
Geology and Archaeology
Impact Craters
Lunar Craters
Lunar Surface
Magnetism and Magnetic Fields
Mapmaking and Navigation
North Pole
Precession
Seasons
Solar Wind
Solstices and Equinoxes
South Pole
Space Weather
Sun
Sunspots and Solar Flares
Tides
Timekeeping and Calendars
Volcanoes and Earthquakes
Weather and Atmospheric Phenomena
AstroGlossary Terms
Terms to learn or review include apogee, perigee, precession, and umbra
Links
NASA Eclipse Home Page
Exploring the Moon
Earth Observatory
Earth Science Picture of the Day
Solar Dynamics Observatory
Near-Earth Asteroid Tracking Home Page
SpaceWatch
Lincoln Near Earth Asteroid Research (LINEAR)
Lowell Observatory Near-Earth-Object Search (LONEOS)
Common Holidays in Relation to Equinoxes, Solstices & Cross-Quarter Days
Earth and Moon Viewer
Fireball Data Center
Meteorite Central
NASA Solar Data Analysis Center (SOHO)
North American Meteor Network
The Aurora Page
Virtual Reality Moon Phase Pictures
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