The largest sunspot since 1947

Contrary to fears, the sunspot did not cause disruptions in communication systems over the weekend

By: Tamara Traubman, Haaretz, Walla News

Astronomers recently discovered a group of huge sunspots, 13 times larger than the surface of the Earth. This is the largest sunspot cluster observed in more than a decade.

Not much is known about sunspots, but it is known that the spots are involved in powerful volcanic eruptions that occur in front of the sun. As a result of the storm in the sun, clouds of electrically charged particles are released that reach the earth. These may cause disruptions in communication systems on Earth and the operation of satellites around it.

But the fear at the end of the week of sun spots, was misplaced. No significant deficiencies in the operation of communication systems were reported. However, astronomers have estimated the chances of communication disruptions by early morning today at 30%. The most impressive result of the solar storm was a spectacular glow in the night sky in the USA. At nightfall, the sky glowed with red and green colors. The aurora occurs when energetic particles from the solar storm hit the Earth's atmosphere. Astronomers defined the spectacle as "the best display of the Northern Lights in the last 20 years".

"It was extraordinary," Keith Johnson, director of the Nevada State University Planetarium, told The Associated Press. "Ability to see colors, shapes and structures".

The sunspot is located in the area in the sun indicated in literature AR9393. "This area is a fertile ground for turbulent activity in the sun, which produces clouds of electrically charged gas that are sent to Earth." This was stated in an official announcement published by the US Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which monitors sunspots.

"This is by far the biggest spot we've seen for a long time," Geoff Alston, director of the solar division at the British Astronomical Union, told the BBC. "Although the spot is unique," Alston said, "in terms of its size, it does not hold the record. This title belongs to a group of spots that appeared in 1947 and whose size was three times that of the current spot."

The magnetic field in sunspots stores energy that is released in volcanic eruptions on the surface of the sun. In these huge eruptions, an amount of energy may be released equal to the explosion of a billion megatons of TNT. Scientists do not know exactly what causes the volcanic eruptions, but it is known that they contain electromagnetic radiation.

"The volcanic eruptions produce radio waves that penetrate through the Earth's atmosphere," Alston said. "These are responsible for disruptions in radio communication on Earth." The number of sunspots increases and decreases in an 11-year cycle. This trajectory parallels the trajectory of the sun's volcanic activity. In recent months, the low period in the sun's volcanic activity is coming to an end, and from now on, sunspots will appear in increasing numbers.

2/4/2001

Ha'aretz * At that time, the Hidan website was part of the IOL portal from the Ha'aretz group

2 eruptions occurred in the area of ​​the giant sunspot * One of the eruptions caused a cloud of hot gas to be emitted into space; according to scientists, when the cloud reaches Earth there may be disturbances in communication and radio systems

Two large eruptions occurred yesterday (Friday) on the surface of the Sun, in the area of ​​the giant sunspot known as Naa. 9393 The sunspot is the largest seen on Earth in a decade. One of the eruptions - which are explosions in the sun's atmosphere - was so charged with energy that it caused a cloud of hot gas to be ejected into space. Researchers who observed what was happening on the surface of the Sun said that the gas cloud, called the halo mass ejection, is heading towards Earth and is expected to reach us within 24 to 36 hours.

Scientists predict that when the gas cloud reaches the Earth, a "geomagnetic storm" will occur. According to them, a storm may cause disturbances in communication and radio systems, and it is possible that following it, better viewing of the polar lights will be possible - in the north and in the south - lower latitudes than those from which they can normally be viewed.

Geoff Alston, director of the British Astronomical Society's Solar Unit, studied the large sunspot, moving 9393, for several days. "Without a doubt this is the largest sunspot we have seen in a while
Many, in fact for many decades," Alston said, "it surpasses the size of the largest sunspot, which occurred and was observed in March 1989."

Alston said that the scientists studying the sunspot and conducting observations do not believe that it will grow beyond its current dimensions. According to him, the spot has shrunk a little in the last day and it seems that this trend will continue. "It seems that the sunspot is behind its peak."