If there have been a Web page Six for what is going on on in house, the sunspot area AR3664 would undoubtedly be one of many greatest “stars” highlighted.
Over the previous few days, the area has grown to be roughly 124,300 miles (200,000 kilometers) large — greater than 15 occasions the diameter of Earth. You may see this dramatic evolution in a brand new time-lapse video, which consists of images gathered by NASA’s Photo voltaic Dynamics Observatory spacecraft.
And AR3664 is lively in addition to huge: It retains firing off highly effective photo voltaic flares and coronal mass ejections (CMEs), a few of which may hit Earth and ramp up our auroras this weekend.
Associated: 4 giant incoming photo voltaic bursts may supercharge the auroras this weekend
Sunspots are darkish patches on the photo voltaic floor the place the magnetic area is abnormally robust — about 2,500 occasions stronger than that of Earth, according to the U.S. Nationwide Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Nationwide Climate Service.
Sunspots usually are in regards to the measurement of Earth, however some, like AR3664, can change into much more gigantic. The bigger the area will get, the larger the rise in magnetic complexity and menace of extra photo voltaic flares.
And here is an fascinating truth about AR3664: According to spaceweather.com, it is at present about the identical measurement because the sunspot linked to the Carrington occasion of 1859, essentially the most highly effective geomagnetic storm ever recorded on Earth.
The current forecast discussion from NOAA’s Area Climate Prediction Heart continues to control the rising area to observe for additional exercise. Scientists anticipate photo voltaic exercise to remain elevated into Mom’s Day weekend and suspect that AR3664 may erupt with extra flares and CMEs.
And yet one more factor: AR3664 is so giant that you just may even be capable of spot it with out assistance from binoculars or a telescope. However make sure you use eye safety in the event you attempt — just like the eclipse glasses you used to see final month’s epic complete photo voltaic eclipse.
