The attached graphs reference my earlier letter published in the New Scientist' 20 March page 32, on the subject of Jupiter's possible influence on sunspots.   I was later surprised to find that whilst many papers exist on the influence of the sun on planetary fluid tides there was nothing I could find on the Solar Photosphere Tides caused by planets.

During the planetary alignment of May 2000, many astronomers were assuring that there would be no effect here on earth and I remember thinking '…but there could be a high tide on the Sun'. 
This triggered my investigation into the idea of solar tides and the effects on fluid layers of the sun.
Starting with the basic mass and distance (inverse squares and cubes) I realised that Jupiter has is the dominant solar tide influence (diagram 1) with Venus adding a strong effect at a higher frequency (diagram 3).   The possibility of a gravitational link the periodicity of sunspots and Jupiter's orbital frequency is a striking feature of the attached the graphic data.

My next steps in this investigation will be to look at the following associated issues:
· The reliability of Sunspot observation data over 300 years (diagram 2)
· Cumulative error from planetary start positions (using 5 May 2000) over the 300 years
· Is it the sun's photosphere tides that affect sunspot visibility?
· How does the periodic rotation/migration of sunspots fit?
· Could there be another 'mass based' 11 year oscillation in the sun?
· How significant is the degree of 'phase lock' between Jupiter and the Sunspots?
· Do planetary eccentricities have any significant components?

This seems to me to be a significant area of solar exploration because of its possible association with radiance and weather mechanisms.   Such economic potential is worthy of funds.

As a relative amateur in this field, I would be very interested to hear from astronomers on the question of researching planetary effects on the fluid tides in the sun.

Glyn Wainwright
MSc MBCS CEng  CITP
Email: akaf@onetel.net.uk
© 2000-2004