investigator have just uncovered some nifty solar observations that were conducted by a adolescent in 1886 . Juan Valderrama y Aguilar was only 17 when on September 10 , 1886 , he was able-bodied to witness a ashen - Inner Light solar solar flare , quite the rarefied issue .
“ A Brobdingnagian , beautiful sunspot was formed from yesterday to today . It is stretch due to its propinquity to the tree branch … by wait at it cautiously I noticed an over-the-top phenomenon on her , on the penumbra to the west of the nucleus , and almost in striking with it , a very bright object was distinguishable producing a shadow clearly visible on the macula penumbra . This target had an almost circular shape , and a light ray do out from its easterly part that spoil the macula to the south of the nucleus , producing a shadow on the penumbra that was lose in the turgid passel of faculae fence the easterly extreme point of the sunspot , ” Valderrama wrote in his note which were published in a French scientific Journal .
The amateur astronomer had a low telescope , with 6.6 centimeters ( 2.6 inches ) of aperture on purpose fitted with a electroneutral concentration filter . This allowed Valderrama to observe the Sun and immortalize this result . concord to the field of study , publish inSolar Physics , Valderrama ’s flare is chronologically the third one observed in account .
“ The eccentric of Valderrama is very unique , as he was the only person in the world more than a century ago to observe a relatively rare phenomenon : a clean - light solar flare . And until now no one had realise , ” co - author José Manuel Vaquero , from the University of Extremadura , said in astatement .
Solar flares are speedy increase in the brightness of area of the Sun ’s air . They are produce when there ’s a sudden release of Energy Department due to magnetic reconfiguration which releases light across the entire electromagnetic spectrum , although they are most ordinarily take note in X - rays .
white-hot - light flares are one of the most extreme cases , as they are produced with such vigor that even the photosphere of the Sun is affected and heat up up , produce a undimmed white - light expelling .
