Quote:
Originally Posted by Alan P
Hi Jim P!
Like you, I did my own bit of research on this quite a number of years ago. At that time I had to obtain the information I needed on the orbit of Jupiter from the BAA (no internet then!) to make my calculations. I did not unfortunately reach any satisfactory conclusions but still believe there is something in it. I too latched on to the similarity between the 11 year sunspot cycle and the period of Jupiter'sorbit around the sun. Since all planets interact with the sun, as indeed all objects interact with each other gravitationally, I see no reason why such a massive planet as Jupiter should not contribute to disturbances on the Sun and even draw out matter from it. Sometimes, astronomers believe what they want to believe even despite great holes in our knowledge of the bigger picture.
Anyway, as you know, the sun has been completely devoid of spots now for some length of time, which is causing some consternation to say the least!
Nice to make a contribution to your cause! Keep looking!
|
I see no reason why Jupiter's gravity would draw any matter out of the Sun. All substances at any given distance from Jupiter would gravitate toward it at the same rate. The only effect on the Sun is a slight tidal elongation into a prolate spheroid. I would not expect this to have any appreciable effect on sunspot activity, but we have been surprised before. As I said before, I would wish to see statistics over many millenia before seriously considering the possibility of some sort of causality.