2012, Sun, and Bosscha

If listening to a discourse about the so-called Apocalypse 2012 based on the Mayan calendar system, there are important arguments around the Sun. Among others mentioned, in the year 2012 solar activity, which has been started since 2003, will reach its peak. In addition, the Sun and the Earth will be aligned with a dark hallway in the center of the Milky Way.

Sure, the Sun is very central to the Solar System, especially the Earth and life in the biosphere. If there is increased activity there, the Earth would be subject to influence. However, Sun has been routinely undergo cycles of activity which berperiode 11 years-it-for more than four billion years and so far fine.

Now, along with the outbreak of a book about the Apocalypse 2012, as well as Hollywood movies on the same theme, also appears rebuttal, not just from the head of the Maya, but also from among astronomy. Easy to understand if the astronomy then a voice. This is because the news of 2012 Doomsday spreader much mention of celestial bodies, as it can strengthen their scenarios stretcher.

In fact, the basic scenario itself, the Mayan calendar, does not differ much with the modern calendar. If the Mayan calendar has a variety of cycles of length berlain-lainan, we also have something similar. So, if the Mayan calendar ends on December 21, 2012, it could happen to us as of December 31, 1999. The next day after that date, ie January 1, 2000, will begin a new cycle, whether it is based on days, years, decades, centuries or millennia.

As we have seen, the end of various cycles on December 31, 1999 was not accompanied by a apocalypse is not it?

What about perjajaran between Earth, Sun, and the central Milky Way? Disseminator of Resurrection said, when perjajaran would cause tidal forces that would trigger a devastating earthquake to finish history of the world. Pairs of the same style will also trigger a solar storm that will destroy Earth. In fact, for added effect, the planets will line up also called on December 21, 2012.

Apparently, after being reviewed carefully, Sun will not cover (menggerhanai) center of the galaxy. Even if Sun can cover the center of the galaxy, tidal effects can be ignored, writes Paul A Heckert was quoted at the beginning of this paper.

With that explanation, 2012 Doomsday scenarios do not need to be taken seriously.

Based on the theory of evolution (birth and death) star, where the Sun is one of them, the Sun is about five billion years from now will expand into a red giant star that will fry the Earth. However, not five-billion-year time period is still very, very long time for a human?

However, for practical purposes, eg to correlate solar activity and communication disorders, or to learn more about the properties of the Sun, the study of the Sun is still important. And this is apparently shown by the Bosscha Observatory in Lembang, West Java.

Research Bosscha

During this time, the Observatory Bosscha better known for his research in the field dual structure of galaxies and stars. Solar research intensively and extensively carried out by the Institute of Aviation and Space Agency (Lapan).

However, last Saturday, October 31, rector of Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB), represented by the Dean of Science Faculty Akhmaloka solar telescope inaugurated direct broadcast (real time). Sun observation system consisting of three telescopes that work on three-lainan berlain wavelength was made with assistance from the Netherlands and architectures done by many researchers and engineers ITB itself.

Telescope system as seen from the figure is much smaller than is generally available in Bosscha telescope consists of a telescope that works in the visual wave, where to get the image of the Sun, its rays first attenuated by 100,000 times. For monitoring, the image of the Sun projected on a surface that can be viewed safely. This is necessary because in addition to research, this facility is also used for community education.

Two other telescopes each one to study low chromosphere and another to study the high chromosphere.

Adding a festive ceremony, also attended the sun from the Dutch physicist, Rob Rutten, who that morning describing the progress of solar physics research and the challenges faced.

Comparing the presentation material, which is equipped with the image of the Sun by shooting live using advanced solar telescope, of course what is gained by the telescope at Bosscha not unrivaled.

Indonesian Contributions

Bosscha Observatory Director Taufiq Hidayat in greeting the introduction mentions, the agency he leads are fortunate to continue to cooperate with a number of institutions outside the country to support the scientific activity. While researchers in Bosscha Sun, Dhani Herdiwijaya, in addition to describing the various aspects of research on solar physics also expressed his hope to get detailed results about the Sun.

Inauguration of solar telescope in Bosscha appears as the momentum for the revival of interest in solar research.

Along with the commemoration of International Year of Astronomy 2009, lasted 400 years is also warning the observation of sunspots. In this context, there are still many human task to further deepen all-round thing about the Sun, the star which is the source of life on Earth. Natural as it is now, according to Divine scenario, will still be stretched five billion years from now, not until 2012.