Scientists are monitoring sunspots that release Category X flares during an “identity crisis,” according to SpaceWeather.com.
A magnified aurora can be seen as a coronal mass ejection of charged particles ejected from the AR3006 “mixed” sunspot, which directs its luminous blast toward Earth Tuesday (10 May) at 09:55 EDT (1355 GMT).
The light was captured on camera by NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory and stimulated the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) radio emission warning, a shortwave radio blackout in the Atlantic Ocean region.
Related: The Sun’s Wrath: The Worst Solar Storm in History
The AR3006’s polarity is the opposite of what scientists expected, making sunspots ‘interesting and dangerous,’ advertiser SpaceWeather.com. (Sunspot polarity is governed by the current solar cycle.) “If AR3006 erupted today, it would be geo-effective. The sunspot is directly facing Earth,” the site added.
According to NOAA’s Center for Outer Space Weather Prediction, which monitors solar flares and other eruptions, coronal mass ejections (CMEs) could follow today’s glare. The ejected coronal mass is a massive explosion of solar material ejected by the sun, and scientists can predict whether a person will follow the beam based on radio signatures. Starting at 12 noon EST (1700 GMT), the Agency said the CME is “probably,” awaiting further feedback.
Generally, the Aurora borealis is possible if the CME intersects with our planet’s magnetic field lines. The result is usually a harmless sky show with glowing gas particles in the atmosphere.
Today’s beacon is rated as an X1.5 class event, which puts it on the weak side for the strongest beacon class. The sun has launched several explosions of roughly equal strength in the past month, along with a cluster of medium-sized flare bombs. The peak of solar activity is expected to occur in 2025, but there are many sunspots on the surface at this time.
In rare cases, CMEs can cause problems with efficient infrastructure such as power lines and satellites, which is why scientists keep a close eye on space weather with many missions staring at our sun.
Both NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) monitor the sun around the clock; Additionally, NASA operates the Parker Solar Probe. Its mission, which takes place periodically near our sun, is to understand how the extremely hot outer atmosphere affects solar flares and other phenomena.
Follow Elizabeth Howell on Twitter tweet embed. Follow us on Twitter tweet embed or on Facebook.
/data/photo/2022/05/15/628071118d808.jpeg)
