[Prev][Next][Index][Thread]

(meteorobs) ALL: AstroAlert: Very Large Possible Naked-Eye Sunspot Group

I know that I said "no more alerts on the Reflectors."  But this is
interesting enough that even those who don't work VHF DX may find it worth
reading!
(Again, if you haven't signed up for one of the alerting services and
you're interested in the auroras, better do so!)
---------------------------------------------------
>Return-path: <owner-sun-earth@skypub.com>
>From: Cary Oler <oler@solar.spacew.com>
>Subject: AstroAlert: Very Large Possible Naked-Eye Sunspot Group
>To: sun-earth@skypub.com
>Date: Tue, 19 Sep 2000 21:50:55 -0600 (MDT)
>Sender: owner-sun-earth@skypub.com
>
>                             A s t r o  A l e r t
>                               Sun-Earth Alert
>
>                          Solar Terrestrial Dispatch
>                            http://www.spacew.com
>
>                              19 September 2000
>
>* One of the Largest Sunspot Groups so far this Solar Cycle comes into View *
>                   * Potential Major Solar Flare Warning *
>
>POTENTIAL NAKED-EYE SUNSPOT
>
>     On 18 September, one of the largest sunspot groups to be observed so far
>this solar cycle began rotating into view around the eastern limb of the Sun.
>The enormity of this region was never fully realized until today. This
>sunspot group currently measures 6.51 BILLION square kilometers in size. That
>is large enough to map the entire surface area of the Earth within the space
>occupied by the sunspot complex almost 13 times over! In fact, this sunspot
>group is so large that people equipped with eye protection may be able to
>spot the sunspot complex with their naked eyes.
>
>     DO NOT ATTEMPT TO VIEW THIS SUNSPOT WITHOUT ADEQUATE EYE PROTECTION! YOU
>COULD PERMANENTLY DAMAGE YOUR EYES!
>
>     To view the Sun with your naked eyes, purchase material that has been
>approved as safe for viewing the Sun and look through the material at the
>Sun. Materials that are safe include shades 12 through 14 welder's glass
>filters, aluminized Mylar specifically designed for viewing the Sun, and
>black polymer filters. One of the most authoritative articles on safe solar
>viewing appeared in the February 1998 issue of Sky & Telescope Magazine (see
>pages 36 through 40 of that issue). Do your eyes a favor and protect them
>properly before attempting to spot this sunspot group with your naked eyes.
>
>     This sunspot will gradually rotate across the face of the visible Sun
>over the next 11 to 12 days. It will be optimally placed for spotting with
>the naked eyes between approximately 21 through 26 September.
>
>     This sunspot complex is also notable in another respect: it has the size
>and the magnetic complexity to produce very energetic solar flare activity.
>Major class M and even large X-class solar x-ray flares are often observed
>from sunspot groups that are as large as this region is. So far, this spot
>complex has been remarkably quiet. Whether this trend will continue remains
>to be seen. However, the potential exists for major levels of solar flare
>activity from this spot complex over the next several days to perhaps
>throughout much of the next 12 days if the region maintains its size and
>complexity.
>
>     Additional information as well as accompanying imagery from professional
>solar observatories showing this region are available at the web site:
>
>                    http://www.spacew.com/astroalert.html

>**  End of AstroAlert  **
>========================================================
>AstroAlert is a free service of SKY & TELESCOPE magazine, 49 Bay
>State Rd., Cambridge, MA 02138, U.S.A. This e-mail was sent to
>AstroAlert subscribers. If you feel you received it in error, or
>to unsubscribe from AstroAlert, please see our unsubscribe form
>at http://www.skypub.com/news/astroalert/unsubscribe.html or send
>a plain-text e-mail to majordomo@skypub.com with the following
>line (and nothing else) in the body of the message:
>unsubscribe sun-earth e-mail@address.com
>replacing "e-mail@address.com" with your actual e-mail address.
>========================================================
To UNSUBSCRIBE from the 'meteorobs' email list, use the Web form at:
http://www.tiacdot net/users/lewkaren/meteorobs/subscribe.html
Follow-Ups: