In January 2014 NASA reported an enormous sunspot on the sun. Does anyone know anything about it?
The image is from the NASA website see below:
http://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/bigspot20140107_sdo_earth_0.jpg?itok=kQA6wNEK
In spite of being an active region on the Sun, AR 1944 has been relatively quite since its appearance. But that could change quickly with a powerful solar flare.
Since AR 1944 appears near the center of the Sun’s disk, it is aimed directly at Earth. So any major eruptions will spew high energy particles and x-rays directly at us, possibly triggering a major geomagnetic storm. Such events can damage satellites in high geosynchronous orbits. This is where most communications satellites orbit, so a major flare can effect global telecommunications.
Sunspots are caused by a concentration of magnetic activity on the surface of the sun. The magnetic activity causes the surface temperature of the affected area (spot) to decrease, making the affected spot look darker than the surrounding area.
You are welcome. This web is excellent for information concerning solar activity, polar lights, and also earth crossing asteroids and possibilities of impact. What is also good is the fact that they give links to further sources of information.
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