3096: Check Engine - Revision history

92.17.62.87: /* Explanation */ Nowhere other than Earth has a solar body called "the Sun" (in Earth-English!), so does not require the proper-name version. (Also, likely a feature of other solar bodies, though we can't see them.) As identified, later given proper name

2025-09-15T20:20:56Z

‎Explanation: Nowhere other than Earth has a solar body called "the Sun" (in Earth-English!), so does not require the proper-name version. (Also, likely a feature of other solar bodies, though we can't see them.) As identified, later given proper name

Birdlover32767 at 18:04, 15 September 2025

2025-09-15T18:04:46Z

FaviFake: /* Explanation */ seems complete

2025-06-16T12:41:36Z

‎Explanation: seems complete

FaviFake: /* Explanation */

2025-06-16T12:41:11Z

‎Explanation

172.68.229.40: /* Transcript */

2025-06-02T16:38:05Z

‎Transcript

172.70.162.205: /* Explanation */

2025-06-02T11:19:51Z

‎Explanation

172.70.91.245: /* Explanation */

2025-06-02T11:12:09Z

‎Explanation

Kynde: /* Transcript */ complete

2025-06-02T10:40:48Z

‎Transcript: complete

Kynde: /* Transcript */

2025-06-02T10:40:30Z

‎Transcript

108.162.245.206 at 17:10, 1 June 2025

2025-06-01T17:10:57Z

@@ Line 10: / Line 10: @@
 ==Explanation==
-{{w|Sunspot}}s are temporary, relatively small, darker and colder regions on the surface of Earth's Sun. The number of sunspots that can be observed varies over an approximately 11-year cycle. The current cycle is {{w|Solar_cycle_25|the 25th since reckoning began in 1755}}. Solar Cycle 25, which began in December 2019 and is expected to peak around mid-2025, has been more active than anticipated, raising some concerns about the impacts of recent solar flares and associated space weather events.
+{{w|Sunspot}}s are temporary, relatively small, darker and colder regions on the surface of Earth's sun, and almost certainly other stars. The number of sunspots that can be observed varies over an approximately 11-year cycle. The current cycle is {{w|Solar_cycle_25|the 25th since reckoning began in 1755}}. Solar Cycle 25, which began in December 2019 and is expected to peak around mid-2025, has been more active than anticipated, raising some concerns about the impacts of recent solar flares and associated space weather events.
-The joke in this comic is that the sunspot array shown has taken the form of a {{w|Check engine light|"Check engine" light}}, found on the instrument panel of most automobiles. The illumination of this light means that the automobile's onboard computer has detected an engine malfunction, which should be checked out by an experienced mechanic. For such a signal to appear among the nuclear fires and plasma of the sun would most certainly be of concern to astronomers.
+The joke in this comic is that the sunspot array shown has taken the form of a {{w|Check engine light|"Check engine" light}}, found on the instrument panel of most automobiles. The illumination of this light means that the automobile's onboard computer has detected an engine malfunction, which should be checked out by an experienced mechanic. For such a signal to appear among the nuclear fires and plasma of the Sun would most certainly be of concern to astronomers.
 Many drivers will barely notice a Check Engine light, and may hope that they ''never'' have cause to see it appear except maybe briefly during the turning of the ignition key as one of the bulb-checks. If it lights persistently before or during driving, it could mean a costly problem, or at least the inconvenience of paying someone to investigate the problem. Frequently, such investigations reveal no identifiable issue with the engine itself, resulting rather from some kind of sensor fault. In this case, the advice may be that it's probably OK to keep driving unless the behaviour of the light changes, and fixing the sensor issue may cause more expense than the small risk of a genuine engine issue arising would warrant.

@@ Line 10: / Line 10: @@
 ==Explanation==
-{{w|Sunspot}}s are temporary, relatively small, darker (because cooler) regions on the surface of Earth's Sun. The number of sunspots that can be observed varies over an approximately 11-year cycle. The current cycle is {{w|Solar_cycle_25|the 25th since reckoning began in 1755}}. Solar Cycle 25, which began in December 2019 and is expected to peak around mid-2025, has been more active than anticipated, raising some concerns about the impacts of recent solar flares and associated space weather events.
+{{w|Sunspot}}s are temporary, relatively small, darker and colder regions on the surface of Earth's Sun. The number of sunspots that can be observed varies over an approximately 11-year cycle. The current cycle is {{w|Solar_cycle_25|the 25th since reckoning began in 1755}}. Solar Cycle 25, which began in December 2019 and is expected to peak around mid-2025, has been more active than anticipated, raising some concerns about the impacts of recent solar flares and associated space weather events.
 The joke in this comic is that the sunspot array shown has taken the form of a {{w|Check engine light|"Check engine" light}}, found on the instrument panel of most automobiles. The illumination of this light means that the automobile's onboard computer has detected an engine malfunction, which should be checked out by an experienced mechanic. For such a signal to appear among the nuclear fires and plasma of the sun would most certainly be of concern to astronomers.

@@ Line 10: / Line 10: @@
 ==Explanation==
-{{incomplete|This page was created by THE SOLAR PIT CREW. Don't remove this notice too soon.}}
+{{w|Sunspot}}s are temporary, relatively small, darker (because cooler) regions on the surface of Earth's Sun. The number of sunspots that can be observed varies over an approximately 11-year cycle. The current cycle is {{w|Solar_cycle_25|the 25th since reckoning began in 1755}}. Solar Cycle 25, which began in December 2019 and is expected to peak around mid-2025, has been more active than anticipated, raising some concerns about the impacts of recent solar flares and associated space weather events.
 The joke in this comic is that the sunspot array shown has taken the form of a {{w|Check engine light|"Check engine" light}}, found on the instrument panel of most automobiles. The illumination of this light means that the automobile's onboard computer has detected an engine malfunction, which should be checked out by an experienced mechanic. For such a signal to appear among the nuclear fires and plasma of the sun would most certainly be of concern to astronomers.

@@ Line 13: / Line 13: @@
 {{w|Sunspot|Sunspots}} are temporary, relatively small, darker (because cooler) regions on the surface of Earth's Sun. The number of sunspots that can be observed varies over an approximately 11-year cycle. The current cycle is {{w|Solar_cycle_25|the 25th since reckoning began in 1755}}. Solar Cycle 25, which began in December 2019 and is expected to peak around mid-2025, has been more active than anticipated, raising some concerns about the impacts of recent solar flares and associated space weather events.
-The joke in this comic is that the sunspot array shown has taken the form of a "{{w|Check engine light}}", found on the instrument panel of most automobiles. The illumination of this light means that the automobile's onboard computer has detected an engine malfunction, which should be checked out by an experienced mechanic. For such a signal to appear among the nuclear fires and plasma of the sun would most certainly be of concern to astronomers.
+The joke in this comic is that the sunspot array shown has taken the form of a {{w|Check engine light|"Check engine" light}}, found on the instrument panel of most automobiles. The illumination of this light means that the automobile's onboard computer has detected an engine malfunction, which should be checked out by an experienced mechanic. For such a signal to appear among the nuclear fires and plasma of the sun would most certainly be of concern to astronomers.
 Many drivers will barely notice a Check Engine light, and may hope that they ''never'' have cause to see it appear except maybe briefly during the turning of the ignition key as one of the bulb-checks. If it lights persistently before or during driving, it could mean a costly problem, or at least the inconvenience of paying someone to investigate the problem. Frequently, such investigations reveal no identifiable issue with the engine itself, resulting rather from some kind of sensor fault. In this case, the advice may be that it's probably OK to keep driving unless the behaviour of the light changes, and fixing the sensor issue may cause more expense than the small risk of a genuine engine issue arising would warrant.

@@ Line 22: / Line 22: @@
 ==Transcript==
-:[In a black panel a large orange sun i shown. Depicted as it might look when viewed through solar eclipse glasses. A pattern in the form of a "check engine" light (as displayed on a car's instrument panel) is shown on the surface of the Sun, in the bottom right quarter. The pattern has a pictogram of a motor on the top with text below it, both in orange inside a black square, matching the orange color of the Sun.]
+:[In a black panel a large orange Sun-type sun is shown, depicted as it might look when viewed through solar eclipse glasses. A pattern in the form of a "check engine" light (as displayed on a car's instrument panel) is shown on the surface of the Sun, in the bottom right quarter. The pattern has a pictogram of a motor on the top with text below it, both in orange inside a black square, matching the orange shading of the rest of the Sun.]
 :Check Engine

@@ Line 15: / Line 15: @@
 The joke in this comic is that the sunspot array shown has taken the form of a "{{w|Check engine light}}", found on the instrument panel of most automobiles. The illumination of this light means that the automobile's onboard computer has detected an engine malfunction, which should be checked out by an experienced mechanic. For such a signal to appear among the nuclear fires and plasma of the sun would most certainly be of concern to astronomers.
-Many drivers will barely notice a Check Engine light, and may hope that they ''never'' have cause to see it appear except maybe briefly during the turning of the ignition key as one of the bulb-checks. If it lights persistently before or during driving, it could mean a costly problem, or at least the inconvenience of paying someone to investigate the problem. Frequently, such investigations reveal no identifiable issue with the engine itself, resulting rather from some kind of sensor fault. In this case, the advice may be that it's probably OK to keep changing unless the behaviour of the light changes, and fixing the sensor issue may cause more expense than the small risk of a genuine engine issue arising would warrant.
+Many drivers will barely notice a Check Engine light, and may hope that they ''never'' have cause to see it appear except maybe briefly during the turning of the ignition key as one of the bulb-checks. If it lights persistently before or during driving, it could mean a costly problem, or at least the inconvenience of paying someone to investigate the problem. Frequently, such investigations reveal no identifiable issue with the engine itself, resulting rather from some kind of sensor fault. In this case, the advice may be that it's probably OK to keep driving unless the behaviour of the light changes, and fixing the sensor issue may cause more expense than the small risk of a genuine engine issue arising would warrant.
 As we don't appear to be cycling the Sun's ignition process (i.e., it hasn't recently stalled, which would be a worry in itself) the showing of the light/dark-patch would probably be very concerning, and hopefully someone at least has the owner's manual in order to run through any initial troubleshooting, before perhaps a more extensive check is made at the local solar-repair shop to clear the error. Given the rotating nature of the star and Earth's orbit, one might also wonder how long this, or any other warnings, might be shown before becoming visible to {{w|Solar viewer|suitably equipped}} viewers of the Sun.

@@ Line 23: / Line 23: @@
 ==Transcript==
 {{incomplete transcript|Don't remove this notice too soon.}}
-:[A pattern in the form of a "check engine" light (as displayed on a car's instrument panel) is shown on the surface of the Sun, in the bottom right quarter. The pattern has a pictogram of a motor on the top and the text "Check Engine" below it, both in orange inside a black square, matching the orange color of the Sun.]
+:[In a black panel a large orange sun i shown. Depicted as it might look when viewed through solar eclipse glasses. A pattern in the form of a "check engine" light (as displayed on a car's instrument panel) is shown on the surface of the Sun, in the bottom right quarter. The pattern has a pictogram of a motor on the top with text below it, both in orange inside a black square, matching the orange color of the Sun.]
 :[Caption below the panel:]
@@ Line 29: / Line 30: @@
 {{comic discussion}}<noinclude>
 [[Category:Comics with color]]
 [[Category:Astronomy]]

@@ Line 19: / Line 19: @@
 As we don't appear to be cycling the Sun's ignition process (i.e., it hasn't recently stalled, which would be a worry in itself) the showing of the light/dark-patch would probably be very concerning, and hopefully someone at least has the owner's manual in order to run through any initial troubleshooting, before perhaps a more extensive check is made at the local solar-repair shop to clear the error. Given the rotating nature of the star and Earth's orbit, one might also wonder how long this, or any other warnings, might be shown before becoming visible to {{w|Solar viewer|suitably equipped}} viewers of the Sun.
-The title text says that "they" (presumably the astronomers) advise that it's probably safe for Earth to continue to orbit the Sun unless and until there is a change in the nature of the "check engine light" sunspot array. Such a change, on an instrument panel, signals that the matter needs immediate attention, lest something dramatic and expensive occur, such as an [https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/l8j0ip/eli5_what_is_a_seized_engine/ engine seizure], which can be spectacular and is irreparable. The solar equivalent of an engine seizure would be a {{w|Nova|nova}}, which would definitely be of concern to astronomers (and [[1895 everyone else]]), and for which the prospect of "calling [[673: The Sun | someone]]" that can do anything useful (a cosmic tow truck to pull Earth to a safe distance?) seems remote.
+The title text says that "they" (presumably the astronomers) advise that it's probably safe for Earth to continue to orbit the Sun unless and until there is a change in the nature of the "check engine light" sunspot array. Such a change, on an instrument panel, signals that the matter needs immediate attention, lest something dramatic and expensive occur, such as an [https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/l8j0ip/eli5_what_is_a_seized_engine/ engine seizure], which can be spectacular and is irreparable. The solar equivalent of an engine seizure would be a {{w|Nova|nova}}, which would definitely be of concern to astronomers (and [[1895 | everyone else]]), and for which the prospect of "calling [[673: The Sun | someone]]" that can do anything useful (a cosmic tow truck to pull Earth to a safe distance?) seems remote.
 ==Transcript==