Magnificent Active Region

For those who keep up with the sun check this out. Magnificent Active Region. Sunspot 1087 has a magnetic canopy that can only be described as magnificent. It's on full display in today's extreme ultraviolet image from the Solar Dynamics Observatory:

Note the inset. The active region could swallow our planet ten times over and still have room to spare. Fortunately, we're 93 million miles away. We could still feel the effects of an eruption, however. The thicket of magnetic loops and filaments harbors energy for M-class solar flares. M-flares can heat and puff up Earth's upper atmosphere, causing satellites to experience extra drag as they orbit our planet; they can also cause waves of ionization to ripple around the planet, disrupting radio communications. There haven't been any big eruptions yet, but the magnificent magnetic field of sunspot 1087 has been restless, as shown in this time-lapse movie spanning four days.

NOAA forecasters estimate a 10% chance of M-flares during the next 24 hours. Readers with solar telescopes are encouraged to monitor developments.

spaceweather.com...

Very cool dab!
Here are a couple of pics from the site:



Here's one of the eclipse:


The next 24 hours huh? I will keep my eyes peeled for any effects here.

Peace

[edit on 13-7-2010 by speculativeoptimist]

www.abovetopsecret.com...

Whats the current situation now? All seems to have gone quiet on others?

[edit on 13-7-2010 by jazz10]

reply to post by jazz10


Looks quit for right now according to sohowww.nascom.nasa.gov... But for how long