Sunspot 484

Sunspot 484, which first appeared this past weekend, has grown into one
of the biggest sunspots in years.


Now about the size of the planet Jupiter, it's easy to see. But never
look directly at the sun! Visit Spaceweather.com for safe solar
observing tips. Meanwhile, say forecasters, another big sunspot could
soon appear near the sun's southeastern limb.

The active region is not yet directly visible, but the Solar and
Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) has seen material being blasted over the
sun's limb from the approaching spot.


Major eruptions are possible from these active regions as they rotate
across the face of the sun over the next two weeks.

http://science.nasa.gov/spaceweather...i512_blank.gif


=DF=83--=B9=B9

I was out this morning (1100 CDT) looking at the Sun via projection on a
sheet of paper as well as through a 90mm refractor with a Hydrogen alpha
(Day Star) filter.

The large sunspot is very noticeable, with either viewing method and was
more of a group as it was broken-up into several pieces.

However on opposite limbs there were some incredible eruptions. Through the
eyepiece there was huge arc-shaped mass at about '11 o'clock', and another
area of fountain-like and arched eruptions at about '5 o'clock'. One of
these may be the harbringer of the next large sunspot, just now beginning
rotating into view.

Clear Skies...

Bob Riddle
Starwalk, Inc.
http://currentsky.com