An X-class solar flare erupted today near sunspot 484

Space Weather News for October 19, 2003
http://spaceweather.com

An X-class solar flare erupted today near sunspot 484--a remarkably fast
growing active region near the sun's northeastern limb. Yesterday the spot
was barely visible; now it is about 7 times wider than Earth. Because of
its location near the suns's limb, today's blast was probably not
Earth-directed. Sunspot 484 is, however, moving into position where it
could aim solar flares and coronal mass ejections our way later this
week--if solar activity continues high.