Astronomers discover large sunspots on the surface of the sun
Astronomers discover immense swarms of dark points on the sun. They could result in a vivid aurora and dangerous solar flares in the coming months. A pair of Massive sunspot swarms have appeared on the surface of the earth increasing the chances of an intense solar storm. Some of them are large enough to devour the earth’s hole. Sunspots are dark regions of the sun where it is cooler than the other parts of the surface. Solar flares originate close to these dark areas.
What could be the impacts of this?
Recently, space whether force forecasters detected two active regions known as AR2993 and AR2994. These are swarms made up of several sunspots over a few days. Solar flares and coronal mass ejections come from these regions. When these explode in the direction of Earth, they can result in geomagnetic storms that can produce beautiful auroras as well as pose a danger to power grids and satellites.
It isn’t clear till now whether these new dark spot swarms will result in a solar flare that will hit the Earth. But astronomers predict that it is possible in the coming weeks. Sunspots are caused by magnetic destructions in the Photosphere of the sun. Thus, exposing the cooler layers underneath and appearing as a black spot. Solar flares can erupt in these regions sending plasma and charged particles out into space. Some of which head towards the earth. When they reach the planet, they run down the magnetic field, creating aurora such as Northern lights. This can also result in power outages and internet issues.
Risks of plasma ejection
Earlier this month, Earth narrowly missed a plasma ejection, linked to a sunspot group that had already appeared earlier on the star. If it had hit the planet, it could have resulted in risks to astronauts in space as well as satellites and power grids. The recent increase in activity of the sun is a result of its coming towards the most active phases in its 11-year-old solar cycle hitting the peak in 2024. Studies have shown that the level of solar activity currently happening is about the same as 11 years ago. It was during the same point in the last cycle.
Representation of classes
Some flares have letter classes with A-class the weakest then B, C, and M classes, and X class as the strongest in the categories. They are then given a size. Small numbers represent aller flares within the class. An X1 flare is about 10 times less powerful than the most intense solar flare possible. The most powerful on record from 2003, is the X28. The Space Weather Prediction Centre of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) found that Sunday’s flare caused a blackout at certain radio frequencies below 30 MHz in southeast Asia and Australia. Though the radio caused a blackout, the plasma from the flare won’t hit the Earth. There hasn’t been an extreme CME or Solar flare in the modern world. The last was the Carrington event in 1859. This created a geomagnetic storm with aurora appearing globally as well as fire at telegraph stations.
FAQS
1. What did the astronomers see?
A pair of massive sunspot swarms, some large enough to devour the Earth whole, have appeared on the surface of the Sun, increasing the chance of an intense solar storm.
2. What are sunspots?
Sunspots are dark regions of the Sun where it is cooler than other parts of the surface. Solar flares originate close to these dark areas of the star.
3. What can be the consequences of these sunspots?
It isn’t yet clear whether these new dark spot swarms will result in solar flares that hit the Earth, but astronomers predict it is possible in the coming weeks.
For more details and updates visit themarketactivity.com.
