A potentially dangerous sunspot

A potentially dangerous sunspot is emerging over the sun's southeastern limb. Yesterday, while it was still partially eclipsed by the edge of the sun, it produced an impulsive M6-class solar flare (shown below). The true value of the flare may have been X-class.

A pulse of extreme ultraviolet radiation from this flare ionized Earth's upper atmosphere, producing a minor shortwave radio blackout over the South Pacific Ocean. Radio transmissions at frequencies below 20 MHz "browned out" around 22:22 UTC on Nov. 28th.

This is the same behemoth sunspot that Mars rover Perserverance saw from Jezero Crater last week. Now it is turning toward Earth. Strong geoeffective flares are increasingly likely as the sunspot lines up with our planet in the days ahead. Solar flare alerts.

Jaegers 103mm refractor Baader safety wedge, Losmandy GM-8 mount Canon 60d camera.

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