Latest news with #sunspot
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Giant 'senior citizen' sunspot on 3rd trip around the sun could break a century-old record
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. A massive, "geriatric" sunspot is currently making its third trip across the sun's Earth-facing surface, around two months after it first appeared. The senior citizen has lasted far longer than most other solar blemishes and looks like it might persist for a while longer, potentially breaking a centuries-old sunspot longevity record. The giant dark patch, currently named AR 14100, is located on the sun's northern hemisphere, just above the solar equator. It first emerged on April 5, when it was dubbed AR 14055, before disappearing from view as it rotated onto the sun's far side. It then reappeared on April 28, and was renamed AR 14079, before disappearing from view once again and reemerging on Monday (May 26) with a new name. (Sunspots get a new name every time they reappear on the sun's near-side to help researchers better track their space weather potential.) The hefty spot has fluctuated in size as it's spun around our home star. It reached its maximum size in early May (when it was labeled AR 14079), spanning 87,000 miles (140,000 kilometers) across — roughly the equivalent of 11 times Earth's diameter. This made it the largest sunspot of 2025 so far, but it is now around half the size. Most sunspots last only around a week, while some of the larger ones can sometimes survive long enough to reappear after transiting the sun's far side, which takes approximately two weeks. But it is rare for the dark patches to live any longer, even when they are this large. To compare it to human lifespans, AR 14100 is most definitely a "senior citizen," according to "Contact the AARP [formerly the American Association of Retired Persons]," representatives wrote. "Sunspot 14100 wants to join." Related: 10 supercharged solar storms that blew us away in 2024 It is hard to tell what the record for the longest-lived sunspot is because historical data is far less accurate than what researchers currently collect using advanced spacecraft. For example, astronomers previously believed that a sunspot had persisted for 18 months between 1840 and 1841. However, a century later, scientists showed that this was actually multiple different sunspots appearing in the same place. Instead, the longest lasting sunspot on record is most likely a dark patch from 1919, which lasted for 134 days (or more than four months), according to Although AR 14100 is smaller than it was two weeks ago, it shows no signs of disappearing completely, and has unleashed several solar flares since reemerging. But it would need to survive for another two or three months to break the longevity record. "It might," representatives wrote. "The sunspot is remarkably stable." "I'm curious to see how long the sunspot will be with us," amateur astronomer Harald Paleske, who has photographed the sunspot multiple times from near his home in Germany, told "This is its third run across the sun." Sunspots appear when parts of the sun's magnetic field break through the solar surface. This makes them cooler than their surroundings, making them appear very dark via an optical illusion, even though they are only slightly dimmer than the rest of the sun. We are currently in the midst of the most active phase of the sun's roughly 11-year cycle of activity, known as solar maximum, which began in early 2024 and is likely now coming toward an end. During this period, the number of sunspots also peaks as the sun's magnetic field becomes increasingly chaotic and disorganized before eventually flipping entirely. The current cycle has been much more active than initially expected, and in August 2024, the average number of daily sunspots reached its highest monthly value in 23 years, peaking at 337 individual spots in a single day. Scientists have seen several other massive sunspots during the current cycle, including one that was up to 15 times wider than Earth and a "sunspot archipelago" that was about the same size. These giant spots tend to emerge very quickly, swelling up to their full width in just a couple of days. But while giant sunspots can spit out powerful solar storms capable of disrupting , such as the great Halloween solar storms of 2003, their size is no guarantee that they will be dangerous. Instead, it is their magnetic configuration that determines how likely they are to impact our planet. RELATED STORIES —We are fast approaching the sun's 'battle zone' — and it could be even worse than solar maximum, experts warn —X-class solar flares hit a new record in 2024 and could spike further this year —A mysterious, 100-year solar cycle may have just restarted — and it could mean decades of dangerous space weather Luckily, new technologies, such as the recently completed Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope in Hawaii, which recently captured the clearest-ever image of a sunspot, are helping researchers predict which spots will be most dangerous. Scientists are also using NASA's Mars rovers to spy on giant sunspots when they are pointed away from Earth. Though we have seen some sizable dark patches sweeping across the sun in recent years, they pale in comparison to historic giants, including a whopping spot that covered up to 14% of the solar disk and spat out the Carrington Event — the most powerful solar storm ever witnessed by humans — in 1859.
Times of Oman
11-05-2025
- Science
- Times of Oman
Largest sunspot of 2025 observed from Oman
Muscat: Members of the Oman Society for Astronomy and Space (OSAS) observed one of the largest sunspots to appear on the sun's surface during the 25th solar cycle, known as Sunspot 4079. The sunspot's size exceeded 11 times the size of planet Earth. Observers were able to clearly photograph this spot from the skies over Muscat Governorate using specialised astronomical equipment, in a rare scene that reflects the peak of solar activity currently being experienced by the sun. Wesal bint Salem Al Hinai, Vice Chair of the Community Engagement Committee at the OSAS, said: "Sunspot 4079 is one of the largest phenomena we have observed during the current solar cycle. Photographing it from the Sultanate of Oman is a scientific and astronomical achievement that highlights the OSAS's efforts to monitor cosmic phenomena that directly impact Earth. This requires community awareness of the risks of space weather and its potential impact on communications, navigation, and energy systems." She added: "Sunspots are one of the most prominent phenomena associated with the Sun's magnetic activity. They represent a crucial indicator in understanding the behavior of our solar system's star and its multiple effects on Earth. The Sun undergoes regular cycles of magnetic activity known as "solar cycles," each lasting an average of about 11 years. During these cycles, the Sun's surface undergoes significant changes in the number of sunspots, the intensity of flares, and coronal mass ejections, which directly impact space weather and the geomagnetic environment surrounding Earth." Sunspots are the most visible manifestation of this cycle, increasing in frequency as solar activity increases and decreasing toward the end of the cycle. Currently, the Sun is experiencing the peak of the 25th solar cycle, which began in December 2019. This is a phase of intense magnetic disturbance during which the number of sunspots is markedly increased. A daily average of about 215.5 sunspots was recorded in August 2024, the highest in more than two decades, indicating that the 25th solar cycle may have peaked earlier than expected. In late February In 2025, the sun erupted a powerful solar flare, detected by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory. These flares are classified as Class X flares, the most intense. This event was followed by a coronal mass ejection, which triggered a geomagnetic storm that reached Earth in April 2025, causing auroras across large areas of mid-latitudes and partially impacting high-frequency radio communications systems. In May 2025, the sun showed another unprecedented surge of activity, with the number of sunspots exceeding previous predictions, indicating a peak that may be the strongest in decades. This activity is accompanied by powerful solar flares and coronal mass ejections, potentially leading to geomagnetic storms that could impact Earth. This cycle is expected to continue until 2030, with solar activity gradually declining after the peak. One of the most prominent historical phenomena associated with extreme solar activity is the Carrington Effect, the most powerful solar storm documented in modern times. It occurred in 1859. On September 1 of that year, British astronomer Richard Carrington observed a powerful solar flare emanating from a massive sunspot. Within 24 hours, high-energy solar particles reached Earth, causing a widespread magnetic storm. Auroras were observed in unusual locations, such as the Caribbean, and its effects were even felt in Hong Kong and Rome. The storm also disrupted telegraph networks and caused fires due to electrical sparks. This event serves as an early warning of the potential dangers of solar storms in an age of heavy reliance on technology, such as satellites, electricity grids, and communications.
