Sunspot 1087 is gorgeous: signs in the sun

I've been watching sunspot 1087 and it is a busy one. It has been facing away from earth the last week, crackling the whole time, but the rotation is bringing it into view now. If it ejects another massive Coronal Mass Ejection, (CME) our satellites, electricity grid, gps, and electronics could be in for some interference. But isn't it beautiful!

Note the inset, earth's position. Source thanks to Spaceweather.com. "The active region could swallow our planet ten times over and still have room to spare. Fortunately, we're 93 million miles away. We could still feel the effects of an eruption, however. The thicket of magnetic loops and filaments harbors energy for M-class solar flares. M-flares can heat and puff up Earth's upper atmosphere, causing satellites to experience extra drag as they orbit our planet; they can also cause waves of ionization to ripple around the planet, disrupting radio communications. There haven't been any big eruptions yet, but the magnificent magnetic field of sunspot 1087 has been restless, as shown in this time-lapse movie spanning four days."

Spaceweather glossary says "there are 3 categories: X-class flares are big; they are major events that can trigger planet-wide radio blackouts and long-lasting radiation storms. M-class flares are medium-sized; they can cause brief radio blackouts that affect Earth's polar regions. Minor radiation storms sometimes follow an M-class flare. Compared to X- and M-class events, C-class flares are small with few noticeable consequences here on Earth."

If you really want to get your doom on, read William Forstchen's "One Second After" about the societal breakdown after an electro-magnetic pulse, and man-made version of a natural X-class Coronal Mass Ejection.

Meanwhile, I enjoy seeing the sun's activity, knowing that the Lord our God created it, and also that He told us that there would be signs in the sun and the moon and the stars! He is creative and wonderful!

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