Sunspot group 1598 unleashes powerful flare

Sunspot group 1598 is hiding behind its innocent name. Late yesterday evening (CDT), it cut loose a powerful X1-class flare, the fourth large flare since rotating around the eastern limb of the sun a few days ago. While not directed … Continue reading →

Big sunspot group 1598 in white light (left) this morning Oct. 23 and in ultraviolet light last night during the big X-class flare. Photos taken by the orbiting Solar Dynamics Observatory. Credit: NASA
Sunspot group 1598 is hiding behind its innocent name. Late yesterday evening (CDT), it cut loose a powerful X1-class flare, the fourth large flare since rotating around the eastern limb of the sun a few days ago. While not directed toward the Earth, should the spot group continue its cannonade of subatomic spew, we’ll soon be in the line of fire. That could mean high speed streams of solar protons and electrons messing with the magnetosphere and kindling auroral displays. I’ll update in the coming days.
Saturn, the sun and the Virgo’s brightest star Spica photographed earlier today by SOHO. Credit: NASA/ESA
Have you noticed that the planet Saturn’s missing from the night sky? That’s because it’s nearly lined up with the sun ...