The Solar Asymmetric Activity – Does The Sun Have a Face?

Abstract

Abstract The east-west asymmetrical, longitudinal distribution of solar activity has a long history, and has been recorded for prolonged periods. In order to explore these observations further this paper focuses on the space and time, of magnetic fluxes in the photosphere that were harvested from images and data from the SOHO/MIDI magnetogram during 2006. Our research documented the distribution of the time and the location of the birth of sunspots, while taking into consideration evidence from other tracers, and comparing them to other solar activity observations. The fluxes’ longitudinal distribution indicates east-west asymmetry and shows remarkably similar behavior to other observational results that have been observed over prolonged periods. Distinguishing between initial and advanced stages demonstrates how most fluxes near the east limb are brought into view in their formation stage . The preponderance of “new” fluxes on the Eastern limb indicates an active longitude belt on the Eastern side thereby causing E-W asymmetry. When observed from an Earth-located perspective, the evidence of east-west asymmetry leads us to conclude that the active longitudinal belt can only exist on one side of the hemisphere and, in fact, can be observed only from an Earth-located perspective. In order to further explore these observations, our research draws on the 2006 results to calculate how the same photospheric activity pattern would be viewed from the perspective of the planets Mars and Venus; as if using virtual observers. In contrast to the Earth-located observer, our calculations indicate an apparent random spread of sunspot longitudinal distribution, with no clear evidence of an active longitudinal belt, and no evidence of an east-west asymmetry as observed from Earth. This empirical evidence leads us to suggest that the sun has a face.