Lowell Observatory

An image of the Sun, from the Solar Influences Data Center. The Sun is currently in the earliest stages of Cycle 24.

Lowell astronomers Wes Lockwood, Brian Skiff, and Jeffrey Hall have collected 25,000 spectra of the Sun and 150 Sun-like stars since beginning regular observations at Lowell in 1994 with the Solar-Stellar Spectrograph (SSS). The purpose of the project is to understand the activity cycles and brightness variations of the closest stellar analogs of the Sun, to better understand the long and short term variations of our own star. Currently, Wes, Brian, and Jeff are examining the activity of the present Sun relative to its activity level at the previous solar minimum in 1996 to identify any long-term trends that may be present. Divergent predictions about the strength of the upcoming solar cycle make this an interesting time to be studying the Sun and its variability. Learn about the Solar-Stellar Spectrograph program here.