Today's Image

Giant sunspot turns toward Earth

Bernie McGee in Scotland caught this image at sunset on April 11, 2016. He wrote:
Bernie McGee in Scotland caught this image at sunset on April 11, 2016. He wrote: “Didn’t realize when I took this that I’d captured a massive sunspot! :))”

The sun is now moving toward a minimum in the 11-year solar cycle, and spots on the sun’s surface have been few and far between. But, in recent days, a giant spot has come into view on the sun. Dubbed Active Region 2529, it is many times the size of Earth. EarthSky community members have captured images of AR2529, and it has now turned in Earth’s direction.

The spot hasn’t been extremely active, although it has produced a few small flares and an accompanying minor coronal mass ejection (CME). But, according to spaceweather.com, high-latitude observers should be on the lookout for auroras, anyway. That’s because of an incoming solar wind stream pouring from a hole in the sun’s atmosphere. This coronal hole has prompted space weather forecasters at NOAA to give us:

… a 75% chance of G1-class geomagnetic storms on April 13 when a solar wind stream is expected to hit Earth’s magnetic field.

Spaceweather.com added:

A minor CME from sunspot AR2529 could deliver a glancing blow at about the same time, further boosting the odds of storminess.

High-latitude sky watchers should be alert for auroras.

Alexander Krivenyshev wrote on April 13:
Alexander Krivenyshev wrote on April 13: “Airplane high above over Manhattan passes in front of the sun with
sunspot AR2529. Pictures were taken from the 25th floor of the apartment … hard to do as the 25th floor has lots of vibration for the camera.”
Karl Diefenderfer caught AR2529 from Quakertown, Pennsylvania on April 12, 2016.
Karl Diefenderfer caught AR2529 from Quakertown, Pennsylvania on April 12, 2016.
AR2529 on April 12, 2016 by Abhinav Singhai in New Delhi, India.
AR2529 on April 12, 2016 by Abhinav Singhai in New Delhi, India.
Sunspot AR2529 from Tucson as captured by Jonathan Schieffer.
Sunspot AR2529 from Tucson as captured by Jonathan Schieffer.
Erin Shaw in Lubbock, Texas caught AR2529 on April 10, 2016.
Erin Shaw in Lubbock, Texas caught AR2529 on April 10, 2016.
This animation from  NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory shows how AR2529 has appeared to move across the sun's surface.  In fact, its movement is due to the sun's rotation.
This animation from NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory shows how AR2529 has appeared to move across the sun’s surface. In fact, its movement is due to the sun’s rotation. Image via NASA/SDO.

The video below is from MyNikonP900Zoomz on YouTube. And, although, it may be true that AR2529 is visible to the unaided eye at sunset, it’s really not wise to give that a try! Even at sunset, looking at the sun with your unaided eye can result in permanent eye damage. Nice video, though!

Bottom line: On a relatively quiet sun, a large sunspot seems particularly noticeable! Giant sunspot AR2529 is now facing Earth’s way and should be visible for another week or so.

Posted 
April 13, 2016
 in 
Today's Image

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Deborah Byrd

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