The Wilcox Solar Observatory

The Wilcox Solar Observatory began measuring the Sun's global magnetic field in May 1975, with the goal of understanding changes in the Sun and how those changes affect the Earth, or space weather. Now low-resolution maps are also made of the Sun's magnetic field each day, as are observations of solar surface motions. The observatory is located in the foothills just west of the Stanford University campus.

Current staff research topics include space weather [big], helioseismology, and the solar cycle; The staff are closely associated with the Solar Oscillations Investigation that uses the Michelson Doppler Imager (MDI) instrument on the SOHO spacecraft to observe the inside of the Sun.

We are also developing the Solar On-Line Activity Resouce Center (SOLAR Center), a set of web-based activities to interest, inform, and involve people in the study of the Sun. The target audiences include elementary and secondary school students as well as the general public.

Information is available concerning Solar Physics and Astrophysics at Stanford, the SOI-MDI project, and schedules for Helioseismology, CSSA, and related Bay Area Seminars.

WSO is supported by ONR, NASA, and NSF, and directed by Prof. P.H. Scherrer.

A Prediction for the March 9 Eclipse by Mikic & Linker of SAIC.

WSO Solar Magnetic Field Observations

Summary or Complete descriptions of available WSO data.
The WSO Data Use Policy.

<--- Our latest magnetogram: [ps] or [gif]

• A fairly complete Atlas of magnetograms in gif format or
  directories of individual postscript plots of the photospheric field:
  1997: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun,
  1996: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec
  1995: Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec

• Carrington Maps of the Observed Solar Magnetic Field:
  An Atlas [GIF files + Tables] of synoptic charts since 1976 or
  gifs of Recent or Preliminary Rotations

• Carrington maps of the Computed Coronal Field:
  An Atlas [GIF Atlas + Tables] of synoptic charts since 1976 or
  gifs of Recent los, Preliminary los, Recent rad, or Preliminary rad Rotations

• Computed Coronal Field Lines CR 1904-1912 (12/95 - 8/96).

Numerical Data Tables (ASCII)

Photospheric Synoptic Charts including the latest preliminary values.

Computed Coronal Magnetic Field and Harmonic Coefficients

Radial Boundary Condition Rs=3.25
• Source Surface Field Data including the latest preliminary values.
• Harmonic Coefficients.
Classic Line-of-Sight Boundary Condition Rs=2.50
• Source Surface Field Data including the latest preliminary values.
• Harmonic Coefficients

The mean magnetic field of the Sun

1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 * Complete Time Series

The computed Tilt Angle [gif] of the Heliospheric Current Sheet is related to the

measured Polar Field Strength Gifs: All, North, South

Special Requests

Pointers to Related Items of Interest.