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Unmanned Spaceflight.com _ Sun _ The Continuing Adventures Of Sunspot 798...

Posted by: Palomar Sep 14 2005, 01:33 PM

Sunspot 798 has unleashed yet another coronal mass ejection -- yesterday, Sept. 13. Spaceweather.com predicting a "severe geomagnetic storm" as a result, which might hit tonight or tomorrow.

The rundown on 'Spot 798:

QUOTE

This remarkable 'spot has produced nine X-flares since Sept. 7th including a record-setting X17-monster. All by itself, sunspot 798 has made Sept. 2005 the most active month on the sun since March 1991.

Wow.

You can still listen to audio (radio bursts) hosted at spaceweather.com.

They're predicting aurorae in places as far south as southern California, Arizona and Texas (New Mexico always excluded...sheesh) if the incoming CME does wallop our magnetic field as strongly as predicted.

http://www.spaceweather.com/images2005/13sep05/cme_c3_blank.gif

Photo of 'Spot 798 taken by A. Friedman on Sept. 11:

http://www.spaceweather.com/swpod2005/12sep05/friedman.jpg

The caption to the photo was "Into the Maelstrom." I'd say that's apt. Terrific photo.

Posted by: um3k Sep 14 2005, 03:06 PM

And, of course, today is the first cloudy day in a week or so.

Posted by: Palomar Sep 14 2005, 03:24 PM

QUOTE (um3k @ Sep 14 2005, 03:06 PM)

And, of course, today is the first cloudy day in a week or so.

*Sorry to know that's your current weather situation.

Figures, huh? (It's always that way for me with occultations...)

I live in a very sunny clime and will get my 'scope and solar screen out later today.

Hopefully your weather situation will become more favorable ASAP.

Posted by: deglr6328 Sep 14 2005, 05:16 PM

Too bad FUV http://sprg.ssl.berkeley.edu/image/latest_wic.html is never updated anymore.

Posted by: ilbasso Sep 14 2005, 09:20 PM

Check out the "live" auroracam at space.com - http://www.space.com/spacewatch/aurora_cam.html

Posted by: Jeff7 Sep 14 2005, 10:19 PM

I guess I'll actually have to have a look outside every night now, since there's a big spat of solar activity suddenly. Pennsylvania isn't known for great amounts of auroras.
Cloudy right now unfortunately. First time in awhile - the remnants of Katrina passing over were the last sources of rain. I have yet to see any auroras in my lifetime.

Posted by: Sunspot Sep 15 2005, 09:23 PM

Good article at science@NASA

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2005/15sep_solarminexplodes.htm

Posted by: Palomar Sep 17 2005, 11:37 AM

http://www.spaceweather.com/swpod2005/16sep05/Grenier1.jpg

*Nice. Photo taken Sept. 14 by J. Grenier of France. Sunspot 798 currently Neptune-sized.

QUOTE

The bright gash splitting this sunspot down the middle is called a "light bridge." The bridge, explains solar physicist David Hathaway, separates positive and negative magnetic polarities in the spot. It's a sign of explosiveness, because opposite polarities bumping together can spark solar flares.

9 X-class flares since Sept. 7. Info and photo are hosted by spaceweather.com.

http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap000522.html on Sol, from Astropix archives.

Posted by: Palomar Sep 20 2005, 03:21 PM

http://www.spaceweather.com/images2005/20sep05/798_big_strip.gif

*It's been a doozy.

Is currently disappearing over Sol's western limb and also dissolving.

QUOTE

By the time the sun's 27-day rotation swings it back around to face Earth, sunspot 798 should have dispersed.

There are no further chances of Earth-directed flares from the 'Spot. Thanks for the excitement.

[The solar animation shows days of Sept. 7 through the 18th. Info and animation courtesy spaceweather.com]

Posted by: Sunspot Sep 20 2005, 03:28 PM

And what a shame SOHO was in the middle of one of it's "CCD Bakeouts" It missed the whole show lol