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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