A massive sunspot dubbed AR2770 and observed on the sun is turning towards Earth and is expected to increase in size over the next few days.
Basic Facts
AR2770 has a ‘primary dark core’ the width of Mars and a number of crater-size ‘spotlets’ littering its surface.
The sunspot is a member of Solar Cycle 25, the new 11-year-long period of electromagnetic activity, and was observed crackling with minor flares.
What are Solar Flares?
According to NASA, ‘Solar flares are a sudden explosion of energy (in the sun’s atmosphere ) caused by tangling, crossing or reorganizing of magnetic field lines near sunspots.’
These flares are made of photons that travel out directly from the flare site.
Solar flares impact Earth only when they occur on the side of the sun facing Earth.
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