Heliophysics and Apocalypse...

Alex Young is a NASA Heliophysicist.

My parents bought me a refractor telescope. I read the instruction manual on how to view the sun through its filter:

1. Line up the telescope with the sun, waiting until the smallest shadow is on the ground;
2. Place the filter in the telescope.
3. Look.

You'll see something like this:

Probably not as dramatic, but a memory I recall, especially the feeling of some accomplishment at eleven years of age.

I will from time-to-time address the fears of the Apocalypse (ἀποκάλυψις = "lifting of the veil"; "revelation" - Wikipedia).

I will hopefully "lift the veil" over some fears, innuendos and Conspiracy Theories over the Winter Solstice of 2012.

NASA: 2012: Killer Solar Flares Are a Physical Impossibility