Search NASA⌕ Search

Engineering topics

Mosher, J. M.

Publications and source records attributed to Mosher, J. M..

The Lockheed OSO-8 program. Analysis of data from the mapping X-ray heliometer experiment

The final report describes the extent of the analysis effort, and other activities associated with the preservation and documentation of the data set are described. The main scientific results, which are related to the behavior of individual solar activity regions in the energy band 1.5 - 15 keV, are summarized, and a complete bibliography of publications and presentations is given. Copies of key articles are also provided.

Acton, L. W.↗

X-rays, filament activity and flare prediction

One hundred twenty seven hours of high-resolution H alpha movies of young active regions have been compared with simultaneous 1.5-15 keV X-ray measurements from the Mapping X-Ray Heliometer experiment on OSO-8, with particular attention to preflare periods and to the possibility of X-ray emission associated with filament activity during that time. The period studied included eight confirmed flares or subflares, 16 unreported events of comparable magnitude, and numerous examples of filament activity. No evidence for X-ray emission from areas of enhanced filament activity was found unless simultaneous brightenings were present in H alpha. In addition, no peculiar behavior of either filaments or X-rays was detected during the period of approximately 20 min preceding these small flares, which, even in retrospect, would have allowed them to be 'predicted'.

Mosher, J. M.↗

X-ray emission associated with filament activity

The temporal and spatial relationships of activated filaments, soft X-ray production, and H-alpha flares are investigated. The events chosen for study are from a sample of 114 hours of the very best, high-resolution H-alpha records of active regions gleaned from about 150 days of observations of active regions by Big Bear Solar Observatory, all with simultaneous mapping X-ray heliometer coverage. In the final data set, 20 flares are chosen for detailed study (10 significant flares and 10 smaller flarelike events). The data are examined for preflare filament activation and preflare X-ray enhancements with a view to discover a link between the two phenomena. To the limits set by the data, no convincing evidence for consistent preflare effects in H-alpha or X-rays is found. Aside from the 'disparition brusque', it seems clear that filament activity is not directly responsible for any dramatic effects in X-rays, and even there, the enhancement comes after the filament has disappeared.

Acton, L. W.↗

A statistical study of spicule inclinations

The apparent angles of more than 5000 quiet region spicules situated at various position angles around the sun's limb have been measured on off-band H-alpha filtergrams taken during the years 1972-1975. The counts were made exclusively in projection on the disk, within 5.25 deg of the limb. The tendency of the average spicule to lean towards or away from the pole is small at most, and at no latitude exceeds 8 deg. The spread in angles is 30-35 deg.

Mosher, J. M.↗