A sunspot is catching the attention of astronomers and cosmic observation enthusiasts. In just 48 hours, an active region on the Sun known as AR3354 has grown remarkably and is now 10 times the size of our planet.
Experts warn that this gigantic sunspot presents an extremely high risk of generating X-type solar flares, the most violent.
see more
Alert: THIS poisonous plant landed a young man in the hospital
Google develops AI tool to help journalists in…
See too: Scientists discover rare ocean planet twice the size of Earth
Amateur astronomers reveal giant sunspot
Interestingly, even amateur astronomers with ordinary telescopes have been able to observe amazing details of this sunspot. With home-made equipment, they manage to capture images that were previously only possible with the use of the largest and most advanced scientific instruments.
One of these most impressive images was captured by Austrian amateur astronomer Michael Karrer at his backyard observatory. He reported that despite the colossal size of the sunspot, capturing it was not as easy as he had imagined, due to variable atmospheric conditions. However, at propitious moments, he was able to obtain a high-resolution image.
When analyzing Karrer's photo, it is possible to notice that the center of the sunspot is not completely dark, but it has incandescent points called "umbral points".
Discoveries about sunspot AR3354
The researchers believe that these balls of plasma rising and falling in the sunspot's core are turbulent convection cells, responsible for draining heat from depths considerable.
In addition, the image also reveals hundreds of "penumbral filaments", which are thin magnetic tubes that carry energy away from the sunspot.
These fascinating details capture the attention of astrophotographers and enthusiasts around the world, such as Mahdi Rahimi, from Iran, who stated that observing sunspots is one of the most beautiful scenes that one can enjoy for hours on end.
However, it is important to emphasize that direct observation of the Sun can be dangerous for the eyes, being recommended the use of glasses of special protection. Even with the colossal size of sunspot AR3354, precautions need to be taken to protect eyesight.
Extraordinary Dimensions and the Carrington Legacy
Astronomers and space weather specialists are aware of the extraordinary dimensions of this sunspot, which already reaches about 1/3 the size of the historic Carrington sunspot, responsible for the largest solar storm ever recorded on Earth, in 1859.
Sunspots are concentrations of energy that occur during the 11-year solar cycle. During the height of these cycles, the magnetic lines of sunspots can become entangled and generate bursts of energy.
These solar flares are classified in a system of letters – A, B, C, M and X – according to the intensity of the X-rays emitted. Solar flares shoot charged particles of radiation out of the Sun at incredible speeds, reaching up to 1.6 million kilometers per hour.
Warning of solar ejections and potential hazards
These solar flares can also be accompanied by coronal mass ejections (CMEs), which are clouds of magnetized plasma that can take up to three days to reach Earth.
Depending on their power, CMEs can trigger geomagnetic storms that affect the atmosphere. earth, causing auroras and, in more extreme cases, power blackouts, communication problems and even damage to satellites.
Experts continue to closely watch sunspot AR3354 in order to understand what its next moves will be.