Scientists are keeping an eye on a sunspot that released an X-class flare. The mixed-up sunspot AR3006 pointed its flaring blast towards Earth Tuesday.
In a screen grab taken from a handout timelapse sequence provided by NASA / SDO, a solar spot in the center of the Sun is captured from which the first X-class flare was emitted in four years on February 14, 2011.
'Mixed-Up' Sunspot Directly Faces Earth
Scientists are watching a sunspot that "went through an identity crisis" and produced an X-class flare that made an explosion toward Earth Tuesday (May 10) at 9:55 a.m. EDT.
NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory captured the flare on video, prompting a radio emission notice from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) amid a reported shortwave radio blackout in the Atlantic Ocean region.
The polarity of AR3006 is the polar opposite of what experts predict, making the sunspot "interesting and hazardous."
"If AR3006 flares today, it will be geoeffective. The sunspot is directly facing Earth," SpaceWeather.com stated.
According to NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center, a coronal mass ejection (CME) may follow today's flare. CMEs are large blasts of solar material ejected by the Sun, and based on the radio signal, astronomers can anticipate if one will occur after a flare.
The organization warned a CME "may be possible" as of 12 p.m. EDT, pending further observations. Experts rated the flare as an X1.5-class event, which means it was on the weaker end of the flare spectrum.
Enhanced aurora displays are probable if a coronal mass ejection of charged particles develops from the "mixed-up" sunspot AR3006, Space.com reported.
In the last month, the Sun has produced many similar-sized explosions and a slew of moderate-sized flares. The Sun's maximum activity is projected in 2025, yet numerous sunspots are already on its surface.
Solar flares are powerful bursts of radiation. Harmful radiation from a flare cannot pass through Earth’s atmosphere to physically affect humans on the ground, however – when intense enough – they can disturb the atmosphere in the layer where GPS & communications signals travel.
— NASA Sun & Space (@NASASun) May 10, 2022
Sun Pops Up A Scary Solar Flare
Andrew McCarthy, an astronomer, has acquired some stunning images of the Sun once again. McCarthy, who goes under the Instagram handle @cosmic_background, spent seven hours photographing the Sun in the hopes of capturing a solar flare
McCarthy was rewarded for his efforts with one of the most stunning solar flare films we've ever seen. He captured a solar flare erupting from the Sun's surface. It's a stunning sight, and one you probably wouldn't expect to see up near and personal.
McCarthy published the video on Instagram Monday. He claimed in the comments that the Sun simply popped off as he was watching.
You can get a wonderful view of a solar flare erupting in the video, as well as a short glance at McCarthy's setup. The astrophotographer was able to get some beautiful images of the Sun with this arrangement. The latest footage of a solar flare is just the cherry on top.
As you watch the video, you'll see that the flare becomes black in the middle at one point. McCarthy claims that the sensor clipped the flare because it was so bright. It turned dark after processing because of this.
It's also worth mentioning that filming solar flares is more complicated than just aiming a camera at the Sun. McCarthy uses a special arrangement to securely shoot photographs of the Sun. Without the right equipment, pointing a camera or telescope at the Sun might cause harm to your equipment and possibly your eyes.
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