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The Wilcox Solar Observatory

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WSO Data:		Mean Field		Magnetograms		Synoptic Charts		Coronal Model		Tables		Other

The Wilcox Solar Observatory (WSO) began daily observations of 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; this is now called space weather. Since 1976 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 research topics include space weather, 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.

Information is available concerning Solar Observatories Group, Astronomy, and Astrophysics at Stanford, the SOI-MDI project, and schedules for various local seminars.

Stanford University operates WSO with all funding currently provided by NASA. Traditionally WSO was supported by the ONR, NASA, and the NSF. The observatory is directed by Prof. P.H. Scherrer.

	Visit the SOLAR Center -- our award winning educational web site providing on-line activities to encourage and share the wonder of solar science exploration. You can also learn about Space Science at Windows to the Universe or The Exploration of the Earth's Magnetosphere or about some topics in astronomy in general at From Stargazers to Starships. When is Sunrise?	The Sky Above

WSO Solar Magnetic Field Observations

• Latest Preliminary Magnetogram: [.gif] | [.ps], Synoptic Chart [.gif] | [.ps], or Coronal PFSS map [.gif] | [.ps].
• Form for requesting WSO Synoptic Data.
• Summary and Complete descriptions of available WSO data. (Note - formulae refer to Classic PFSS model coefficients.)
• How to use Harmonic Coefficients (Radial PFSS Model Coefficients) in the PFSS model.
• The WSO Data Use Policy and References.

Magnetograms

sn=12049 time=2015:01:25_22h:35m:14s CT2159:083
	Most recent WSO Magnetogram
	[.gif] | [.ps]

Daily Magnetogram Atlases

• Contour: GIF, PS, & PDF: DAILY magnetograms plots available from 1994 onward showing B as well as Velocity and Intensity (updated monthly)
• Contour Postscript and gif Daily photospheric magnetic field: 1995-present (updated daily). This year:
  2014: Jan Feb Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec
  2013: Jan Feb Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec
  
• Colorized GIF: An atlas of magnetograms in gif format since 1988.

Synoptic Charts of the Photospheric Magnetic Field

• An ATLAS [GIFs, PS plots + Tables] of photospheric field synoptic charts for Carrington Rotations since May 1976 or
• A preliminary plot of the most recent 360 degrees: [gif] [ps] of data. [pdf] of data.

Computed Coronal Field Maps

• An ATLAS [GIFs & PS plots + Tables] of computed coronal field synoptic charts since May 1976 or
• Our most recent preliminary classic 360 degrees [ps] line-of-sight computation.
• Our most recent preliminary radial Rs=2.5: 360 degrees [ps] computations.
• Our most recent preliminary radial 3.25 Rs: 360 degree [ps] calculations.

Numerical Data Tables

• Synoptic Charts and
• Harmonic Coefficients and
• Level 3 Magnetograms

Radial Boundary Condition
• Latest Harmonic Coefficients to order 20; an archive of daily coefficients.
• Radial Harmonic Coefficient for each rotation.
• See .txt entries in the WSO model coronal field ATLAS
Classic Line-of-Sight Photospheric Boundary Condition Rs=2.50 with standard polar field correction
• Harmonic Coefficients
• See .txt entries in the WSO model coronal field ATLAS
• Latest preliminary values.

The Mean Magnetic Field of the Sun

2010 |	2011 |	2012 |	2013 |	2014 |
2000 |	2001 |	2002 |	2003 |	2004 |	2005 |	2006 |	2007 |	2008 |	2009 |
1990 |	1991 |	1992 |	1993 |	1994 |	1995 |	1996 |	1997 |	1998 |	1999 |
1980 |	1981 |	1982 |	1983 |	1984 |	1985 |	1986 |	1987 |	1988 |	1989 |
					1975 |	1976 |	1977 |	1978 |	1979 |

• Complete MF Time Series from 1975:05:16 to 2014:08:03
• 39-year MF Plot showing data from May 1975 - July 2014: postscript gif
• Recent meanfield plot in Bartels calendar: .ps | .gif .

Other Quantities