Sunspots are usually not a cause for concern, even if they double in size overnight and grow to be twice the size of the Earth itself. That’s exactly what happened with Active Region 3038 (AR3038), a sunspot that happens to be facing Earth and could emit some minor solar flares. While there’s no rea
Although astrophysicists consistently point out that sunspots like AR3038 pose no danger to people, that doesn’t stop the popular media from writing scary headlines about them, especially ones that seem to grow quickly. But sunspots like this are all par for the course, according to Rob Steenburgh, the head of the US’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Space Weather Forecast Office.
He points out that this type of rapid growth is exactly what we expect to see at this point in the solar cycle, the 11-year repeating pattern that started again in 2019. He also points out that sunspots of this kind don’t typically produce the types of dangerous solar flares that could knock out satellites or disrupt power grids. It simply lacks the complexity.
They are rated in severity, scaling from B to C, M, and X . X flares have their own grading system, and the most powerful solar flares, X20, happen less than once per 11-year solar cycle and typically do not face Earth. The likelihood of an X20 forming due to AR3038 is minuscule, though there was a 10% chance of it creating a less powerful X flare. More likely are M flares, which AR3038 has a 25% chance of developing before it dies down in size and scale, as sunspots typically do.However, it doesn’t look like any of those flares will be directed at Earth, as AR3038 has rotated back out of view and is no longer facing us. There is another active region, AR3040, which had 6 C-class flares in the last 24 hours.
If not, the whole episode with the rapid growth of AR3038 will prove another example of the public being generally concerned about what appears to be a threatening turn of events, but which is quite common and even innocuous. With all the equipment currently set up to monitor the Sun, the general public can rest assured that we’ll have at least some warning before any potentially damaging flare affects our Earth-bound systems.
Malaysia Latest News, Malaysia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
How many ice ages has the Earth had, and could humans live through one?Denise Su is an associate professor in the School of Human Evolution and Social Change and research scientist in the Institute of Human Origins. Her research explores the environments in which our early ancestors lived to provide insight into how environmental factors shaped the trajectory of human evolution. She was previously the Curator of Paleobotany and Paleoecology and Chief Academic Engagement Officer at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History, integrating research with public outreach and education and leading initiatives to increase access to and diversify participation in science.
Read more »
A huge solar eruption could be hurtling towards the EarthA huge solar eruption may be heading towards Earth. Astronomers spotted the eruption earlier this week, but aren't sure where it's headed.
Read more »
A huge solar eruption may be headed toward the EarthESA's autonomous tool spotted a coronal mass ejection on the Sun this Sunday. But we do not know if the ejection is heading towards the Earth or not.
Read more »
Earth from Orbit: Satellites and Solar EnergyGOESWest spotted light reflecting off a solar farm as it passed over California today.✨ This is known as sunglint. It occurs when sunlight reflects off the Earth at the same angle the sensor views it. Learn more in our EarthFromOrbit archives:
Read more »
A Man Who Fell To Earth: Decentralized Software is Here to Stay | HackerNoon'A Man Who Fell To Earth: Decentralized Software is Here to Stay' cc: oct_network web3 nfts
Read more »
Pro-Chinese agents pose as activists on social media to protest Canadian rare earth minePro-Chinese agents pose as activists on social media to protest Canadian rare earth mine — via financialpost Mining Commodities
Read more »