The Wilcox Solar Observatory

The Wilcox Solar Observatory began measuring the Sun's magnetic field in 1975, with the goal of understanding changes in the Sun and how those changes affect the Earth . Current staff research projects include helioseismology, space weather [big], and the solar cycle. Maps are made of the Sun's magnetic field each day, as are observations of solar surface motions; WSO has measured the global magnetic field of the Sun-as-a-star since May 1975. The observatory is located in the foothills just west of the Stanford University campus. Information is available concerning Solar Physics and Astrophysics at Stanford, the SOI-MDI instrument on the SOHO spacecraft to observe the inside of the Sun, and schedules of related Helioseismology. CSSA. and Bay Area Seminars.

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

Plots of Recent Solar Magnetic Field Observations

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

• Earlier Magnetograms: [post script]
  1996: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct Nov
  1995: Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec
  or a more complete gif format Atlas
• Carrington Maps of the Observed Solar Magnetic Field:
  Recent, Preliminary [gif] or Final [GIF Atlas + Tables] synoptic charts.
• Carrington maps of the Computed Coronal Field:
  Recent los, Preliminary los, Recent rad, or Preliminary rad [gifs], or Final [GIF Atlas + Tables].

Recent Numerical Data (Directories of ASCII Files)

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

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 * Complete Time Series

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

measured Polar Field Strength Gifs: All, North, South

Jon Linker and Zoran Mikic of SAIC used WSO data as a boundary condition for their MHD model of the solar corona to bravely make a Prediction for the October 24, 1995 solar eclipse.

Related Items of Interest:

• Today's Space Weather
• NASA's Solar Data Analysis Center
• The Space Physics Data System
• The NASA Observatorium
• WIND Spacecraft data or CDAWeb including all nearly current ISTP Key Parameters
• MLSO Coronameter Data
• IFA in Hawaii
• Big Bear Solar Observatory
• The GONG Project, The SOHO Mission
• Solar Connections a NASA Science Initiative. And related Sun-Earth Connection Roadmap
• The Ulysses Mission, The Hubble Space Telescope, JPL
• NASA-HQ, NASA Space Physics
• AAS, AGU - SPA, AGU-kosmos, AIP
• The National Geophysical Data Center
• Space Weather & AI in Lund, Sweden

• San Jose Astronomical Association
• Things to see in the night sky,
• Other WWW Astronomical Resources [big]
• Extensive WWW Astronomical Resources List (NASA weighted)