Sunspot Grows to 20 Times Size of Earth

**MetalMilitia** · Jul 25th, 2004 4:44 AM

A sunspot group aimed squarely at Earth has grown to 20 times the size of our planet and has the potential to unleash a major solar storm.

The amorphous mix of spots, together called Number 652, has been rotating across the Sun and growing for several days. On Friday, it sat at the center of the solar disk.

Sunspots are areas of intense magnetic energy, cooler and darker than the surrounding surface of the thermonuclear furnace. Sometimes the magnetic fields let loose and huge amounts of radiation and charged particles are hurled into space.

The Sun's last bout of intense storminess occurred last fall, when a string of 10 major flares over two weeks knocked out satellites, damaged others, and forced the FAA to reroute airlines away from exposed polar routes.

No one can say if this sunspot group will let loose with a major storm, but it has the characteristics of a potentially big event.

"The implications of this spot have scientists on the edge of their seats," NASA said in a statement Friday. "If the active region generates coronal mass ejections (CMEs), massive explosions with a potential force of a billion megaton bombs, it will be a fairly direct hit to Earth and its satellites and power grids."

The Sun is now in a generally quiet period of a well-known 11-year cycle of activity. But sunspots and flares can occur at any time. Scientists do not fully understand why the spots appear or how they erupt.

http://www.space.com/scienceastronom...ts_040723.html

Or maybe this should go in armageddon? We'll see how it plays out

-MM-

***prezhorusin04*** · Jul 25th, 2004 6:42 AM

SunSpot 666 is coming up soon..

"i never let schooling interfere with my education."
Mark Twain

***VegasRonin*** · Jul 25th, 2004 6:16 PM

The Sun's last bout of intense storminess occurred last fall, when a string of 10 major flares over two weeks knocked out satellites, damaged others, and forced the FAA to reroute airlines away from exposed polar routes.

I remember that. A lot of people cells went down for a while here in Vegas. When I was telling people here at work it was because of CMEs, they all looked at me like I was crazy. Then the next day, after they heard it on the news, they all wanted to know how I knew. AO Baby!

The world is divided up between knowledge seekers and lemmings.

***lotrfan55345*** · Jul 26th, 2004 11:37 AM

Last year it was October-December, now it is July - ????, it seems to go in 7 month cycles, not 11 year cycles.

**dcookcan** · Jul 26th, 2004 12:40 PM

This past Saturday night, I witnessed the most impressive Aurora Borielous (Northern Lights) I have ever seen. I live on the 52nd parallel, so I usually see them every night, no biggy.

It was approx 1am and when I went outside I noticed some minor lights in the northern sky. When I turned around, I noticed the most amazing lights I have ever seen directly above my house - wow. They extended south to the horizon. They were shooting all over the sky, but were brightest directly overhead.

Was this a result of the current sunspot (652) activity? Did anyone else witness these lights further to the south?

***dutchie*** · Jul 26th, 2004 1:02 PM

If the spots did trigger a massive solar wind, then chances are very good that you witnessed their effect as a big aurora, yes.

***lotrfan55345*** · Jul 26th, 2004 1:07 PM

I should sleep late tonight, I live in the 44th parallel. I ususally see them when an X class flare hits.

***VegasRonin*** · Jul 26th, 2004 2:41 PM

When I turned around, I noticed the most amazing lights I have ever seen directly above my house - wow.

It would be very cool if you guys in these locales would take some pics for us unlucky ones that don't get to see such phenomenon.

***midnightsonblaze*** · Jul 27th, 2004 12:59 AM

I live in Maine, and the Aurora Borielous is actually a quite common occurance here.....I have a digi camera...if I see one again I will take pictures and upload them to the site for anyone interested....

***dutchie*** · Jul 27th, 2004 1:28 AM

Originally Posted by VegasRonin

It would be very cool if you guys in these locales would take some pics for us unlucky ones that don't get to see such phenomenon.

Well, feast your eyes on an abundancy of pictures here!

Here's one to wet your appetite:

***stewey*** · Jul 27th, 2004 4:57 AM

Im shocked Aussie Bloke doesn't claim that is his comet of doom.

**dcookcan** · Jul 27th, 2004 1:03 PM

It would be very cool if you guys in these locales would take some pics for us unlucky ones that don't get to see such phenomenon.

OK, any advice on how this is best accomplished with a digital camera?

BTW, it was cloudy last night, but the lights could still be seen through the clouds.

***lotrfan55345*** · Jul 28th, 2004 4:24 PM

It's not mine, but we come from the same area...

***Bigsky770*** · Jul 28th, 2004 9:19 PM

. . . Beautiful. . .Simply beautiful!

Joe (Bigsky770)

***lotrfan55345*** · Jul 29th, 2004 9:00 AM

Approve the pics already!!!

***VegasRonin*** · Jul 29th, 2004 8:40 PM

Those are some very cool pics Dutchie and Lotr. Anyone have any recent ones. I want to see if this increased solar activity is having an effect on the Northern Lights.

***dutchie*** · Jul 30th, 2004 3:06 AM

Originally Posted by dcookcan

OK, any advice on how this is best accomplished with a digital camera?

BTW, it was cloudy last night, but the lights could still be seen through the clouds.

You'd have to have a damn good digital camera, with variable exposure time. Experiment with exposures between 7 and 20 seconds, depending on lighting conditions and time of day.

**WoOp_De_DoO** · Jul 30th, 2004 9:37 PM

We dont get northern lights where i live but some times in the evening The hole sky gets bright pink Looks awsome i dont have a clue why i guess the sunset does it i live right on the beach

***lotrfan55345*** · Jul 31st, 2004 12:34 AM

Originally Posted by dutchie

You'd have to have a damn good digital camera, with variable exposure time. Experiment with exposures between 7 and 20 seconds, depending on lighting conditions and time of day.

Oh, that reminds me, that photo was taken by a Canon EOS Digital Rebel... Thats all I know.