The Power of Solar Activity

If you think that campfires are mesmerizing, watch this video and then wonder where four minutes went.

Other Cool Solar Activity Videos:
Coronal Mass Ejection in HD
Live Solar Flare
The Auroras video
Southern Lights from the ISS

This article and associated pictures show some of the effect of Solar Activity as we approach the next Solar Maximum. This Space Weather Dangers Article warns us of the damage that massive flares from the sun could cause. Read these. In a comment, share one effect that Solar Weather could cause and one thing you just found interesting.

Sun Sites

Do a quick search through the following websites for 8 minutes.

Characteristics of the Sun
3D Solar System Tour
Sun-Earth Viewer
Amazing Photos of the Sun

What is the most interesting fact that you found about the sun and its size? Leave it in a comment on this post.

Remember the Tides

Using these pictures and the following info, attempt to answer the numbered questions.

• Both pictures were taken from the same exact spot (The zoom for both snapshots was the same, too). The picture on the left was taken at about 2 o'clock in the afternoon. The picture on the right was taken 5 1/2 hours later, at 7:30 pm.
• The high temperature on this day in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico was about 85 degrees F. I tell you this not because daytime temperature influences tides. I tell you this so that might be jealous, and that you might be reminded that this snowy, frigid winter will not last forever.
• The moon phase on this particular day was a "New Moon".

1. What causes high tides and low tides?
2. Approximately how many high tides would there be on this day? How many low tides would there be?
3. On the day when the picture was taken, was there a Spring or Neap tide? If so, which one? How do you know this? ****Alert: This question is impossible to answer correctly with the information given. 
• New Questions: What makes it impossible? What, from the information given, could you change to make it answerable?