Active Sunspot AR4566!

Quite cloudy today, here in Sedona, Arizona, But through a break in the clouds we see active sunspot (AR4566) that has emerged in the sun's southern hemisphere. Yesterday, it produced its first significant solar flare--an M3.5-class eruption.

The explosion launched a faint CME into space, just outside the strike zone for Earth. It will miss our planet.

The next explosion might be stronger and better aimed. AR4566 has a 'beta-gamma-delta' magnetic field that harbors energy for X-class solar flares, and it is turning toward Earth. Geoeffective explosions are possible this week. (Spaceweather.com)

127mm Meade ED APO refractor, 12mm Clave eyepiece, Baader Planetarium safety wedge, Losmandy GM-8 mount, Cannon 60Da camera.