The Sun on 13 Apr. 2016, showing Sunspot AR2529. Image courtesy of NASA/SDO and the AIA, EVE, and HMI science teams.Sunspot AR2529 (“AR” = Active Region) is anything but little – you could fit the entire Earth inside it! It’s so large, it can be seen using solar filter glasses – without any magnification!
It’s surprising to see such a large sunspot at this time, as the solar cycle has past solar maximum, and the Sun’s activity has been steadily decreasing; sunspots have been infrequent in recent months.
Amateur astronomers have been targeting the sunspot, and producing some spectacular images:
AR2529 and Earth Scale Comparison. Credit: JP-Brahic (G+ Post)
AR2529 by Craig Howman (Facebook post)
AR2529 by Gary Palmer. (Facebook Post)SpaceWeather.com says: “a minor CME from sunspot AR2529 could deliver a glancing blow to Earth’s magnetic field. Such an impact would add to the effect of the solar wind stream, already here. NOAA forecasters estimate a 70% chance of more G1-class geomagnetic storms on April 13th.”
Animated GIF showing coronal activity around AR2529 from April 11-13, 2016. Image courtesy of NASA/SDO and the AIA, EVE, and HMI science teams.See more images of the Sun NOW: http://sdo.gsfc.nasa.gov/data/
Read More: http://www.universetoday.com/128325/huge-sunspot-turns-earthward/
