For two years after the launch of ESA's Solar and Heliospheric Observatory on December 2nd, 1995, the Sun has been in a quiet phase. Now scientists see the start of a new cycle of violent activity, with solar storms becoming more frequent.
This video explains the role of SOHO in monitoring the Sun's activities, and why this forecasting service is important to mankind. It includes several new SOHO images, including sunspots and proton showers, and interviews with ESA's Director Of Scientific Programmes Roger Bonnet.

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00:07:30:00 new SOHO image, released 1998 - the Sun explodes, sending out a shower of protons that hit the detectors and leave speckles on the lens
00:07:40:00 ESA animation 1998 - the Sun emits protons which hit SOHO
00:08:03:00 ESA archive animation - the Earth is protected as the solar wind hits the magnetosphere
00:08:14:00 ESA archive animation - SOHO in space moves from the Earth to face the Sun
00:08:42:00 ESA archive animation - the solar wind streams around the Earth's magnetosphere
00:08:54:00 new ESA images, 1998 - interior Paris Observatory, Meudon, dept. for solar forecasts; web site where SOHO data is distributed to interested scientists and general public
00:09:39:00 new ESA images, 1998 - computer screen showing active sunspots where scientists believe solar storms start
00:10:12:00 exterior Paris Observatory, Meudon
00:10:22:00 ESA archi