SUNSPOT EXPLODES
SUNSPOT EXPLODES, HURLS CME AT EARTH: On Feb. 12th, the magnetic   canopy of sunspot AR2699 exploded--for more than 6 hours. The slow-motion   blast produced a C1-class
 solar flare and hurled a coronal mass ejection (CME) almost   directly 
toward Earth. This movie from the Solar and Heliospheric   Observtory 
(SOHO) shows the CME leaving the sun:

The CME could arrive as early as Feb. 14th, although Feb 15th is more   likely. NOAA forecasters say there is a 60% chance of G1-class geomagnetic storms with isolated periods of stronger G2
 storming. The   effectiveness of the CME could be enhanced by a stream 
of solar wind that was already en   route to Earth when the sunspot 
exploded. If the approaching CME sweeps up plasma from that   stream, 
snowplow-style, it could strike Earth's magnetic field with   extra 
potency. 
Arctic sky watchers should be alert for auroras in the   nights ahead. Free: Aurora Alerts  
 
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