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Community photo entitled Big sunspot AR4366 is about to disappear by Victor Rogus on 02/10/2026 at Sedona, Arizona, USA

Big sunspot AR4366 is about to disappear

On 02/10/2026 10:39 am by Victor Rogus | Website | Sedona, Arizona, USA

As seen to me just now through thin clouds...

Big sunspot AR4366 is about to disappear over the sun's western limb. This makes it uniquely dangerous.
Sunspots located near the sun's western limb are magnetically connected to Earth. The sun's magnetic field spirals around like a lawn sprinker--a shape known as the "Parker spiral."
AR4366 is approaching the "danger zone." If there is an eruption in the next few days, debris may be funneled back to Earth by the Parker spiral, peppering satellites with high-energy protons. In extreme cases, these particles could reach into the atmosphere and expose air travelers as well.
Departing sunspot 4366 has a 'beta-gamma-delta' magnetic field that poses a continued threat for X-class solar flares. (Spaceweather.com)

103mm Jagers refractor, Badder Planetarium safety prism, using neutral tensity and a solar continuum filter, Losmandy GM-8 mount. Cannon 60Da camera. 650 FL 12.5 mm eyepiece.