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The solar regions that produced dramatic space weather activity in late October and early November have returned to the visible side of the sun. These large sunspot groups have been numbered as NOAA Region 501 (previous Region 484), 507 (previous Region 488), and 508 (previous Region 486). All three regions have decreased in size since last rotation; however, they are bright and show considerable magnetic complexity. Region 501 has already produced a category R2 (moderate) radio blackout and spawned a category G4 (severe) geomagnetic storm, which began today, November 20th, at 2:04 a.m. EST (0804 UTC) and is strengthening. The...

Sun Sheds Skin And Flips Greenbelt - Nov 20, 2003 Research with the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) spacecraft has revealed the process that may implement the reversal in the direction of the Sun's magnetic field that is known to occur every 11 years. This newly recognized factor in the Sun's magnetic flipping is the cumulative effect of more than a thousand huge eruptions called Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs). The CMEs blast billions of tons of electrified gas into space, carrying away the Sun's old magnetic field and allowing a new one with a flipped orientation to form. Reversal...

Dr. Oliver Manuel, a professor of nuclear chemistry, believes that iron, not hydrogen, is the sun’s most abundant element. In a paper accepted for publication in the Journal of Fusion Energy, Manuel asserts that the “standard solar model” -- which assumes that the sun’s core is made of hydrogen -- has led to misunderstandings of how such solar flares occur, as well as inaccurate views on the nature of global climate change. Recent solar flares erupting on the sun’s surface have unleashed powerful geomagnetic storms -- gigantic clouds of highly charged particles that pose a threat to electric utilities, high-frequency...

Sunspots return for more storms By Dr David Whitehouse BBC News Online science editor Peeking over the limb and heading our way The giant sunspots that produced the largest explosion ever seen on the surface of our star are set to return. They are moving back into view of the Earth after being carried to the Sun's far side by its 27-day rotation period. Astronomers say that even out of direct vision the spots have continued to eject clouds of super-hot material. The spots will point Earthwards again on 19 November. Although still very active, they are not expected...

DENVER - The sun is demanding everyone's attention, three weeks into perhaps the most dramatic and unexpected chain of eruptions ever observed venting from its seething, bubbling surface. There have been as many as 11 salvos since Oct. 19. And the fireworks could reach a new crescendo by Thanksgiving, the nation's busiest holiday for air travel, just one of the things that can be disrupted. "There's been nothing quite like this," said Bill Murtagh, a space weather forecaster for the National Oceanic and Space Administration in Boulder, Colo. "Another big blow is not what anyone needs." NASA scientists compare it...

Huge Sunspots Set to Return, Forecast UnknownBy Robert Roy BrittSenior Science Writerposted: 02:00 pm ET13 November 2003 At least one of a trio of huge sunspots that contributed to the record string of 10 major flares in late October and early November is about to rotate back into Earth's view. And it remains active. The spot has weakened some, but today it set off a good-sized flare and kicked up more space weather. Two other large sunspots trail the first are due back next week. All three have continued to generate space weather while on the far side of...

  Mars Express Dodges Solar BulletBy Tariq MalikStaff Writerposted: 03:10 pm ET11 November 2003 Europe's Mars Express spacecraft has overcome the effects of last week's solar flares, which temporarily knocked out navigation equipment aboard the orbiter while leaving the mission's Beagle 2 lander unscathed. Researchers with the European Space Agency's (ESA) Mars Express mission said their spacecraft is in good health after solar storms blinded the orbiter's two star trackers for up to 15 hours. Mission controllers said both instruments, which trackers are crucial to keeping Mars Express oriented properly, are now working properly and there appears to be...

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2003/12nov_haywire.htm?list134725

Professor Ramon Lopez, Art's first hour guest, confirmed that there are very large explosions taking place on the far side of the sun. Quite possibly these are coming from sunspot 10486. We do not know if that sunspot is now shrinking or is growing. From this side, all we are seeing are the full halos expanding out.

The X18+ solar flare has been associated with a high velocity FULL HALO coronal mass ejection. There IS an Earthward directed component. Estimated plane of sky velocity for this event is 2381 km/sec, although it is probable the true velocity is above 2400 km/sec because there is some evidence for acceleration of the CME. True x-ray intensity is unknown, but is probably near the X30 x-ray level (possibly between X30 and X40). VERY impressive event! Definitely one for the record books. We have no idea yet when this one might impact the Earth or how strong the impact might be....

http://www.spaceweather.com/

another super one:

The Sun cut loose with three severe flares in less than 24 hours through Monday morning, bringing to nine the number of major eruptions in less than two weeks. Scientists have never witnessed a string of activity like this. Colorful aurora are expected to grace the skies at high latitudes and possibly into lower portions of the United States and Europe over the next two or three nights. Satellites and power grids could once again be put at risk. Early Monday, Paal Brekke, deputy project manager of the SOHO spacecraft, was still digesting the significance of the three additional outbursts...

Another remarkable solar flare has erupted from giant sunspot 486--an X8-class blast at 1725 UT on Nov. 2nd. Because the sunspot is nearing the sun's western limb, this explosion was not aimed squarely at Earth. Even so, a coronal mass ejection (CME) is heading our way. Auroras could appear on Nov. 3rd or 4th when the fast-moving cloud delivers a glancing blow to Earth's magnetic field. Visit spaceweather.com for more information and images.

Another high X flare. Looks to be an X8 or X9.

A magnetic storm provided some breathtaking views in certain parts of western Pennsylvania Thursday night. Aurora borealis, commonly known as "Northern Lights," lit up the sky with a red glow. According to the DeNardo Weather team, auroras appear when Earth's magnetic field vibrates in response to a solar wind gust. People on the ground are protected from any danger by a magnetic bubble around Earth called the "magnetosphere." Visit spaceweather.com for more information about auroras.

OK - Freepers...get off of those computers and go look at the night sky! Big Solar Flare Show! Don't miss it!.

<p>As Earth's magnetic field weathered a strong solar shock wave this week, the sun unleashed another powerful flare that could herald more geomagnetic storms on Thursday.</p> <p>"It's like the Earth is looking right down the barrel of a giant gun pointed at us by the sun...and it's taken two big shots at us," said John Kohl of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics.</p>

The geomagnetic storm from the impact yesterday has re-intensified... Auroral oval is INTENSE and directly OVER Massachusetts/Connecticut/New York City..aurora should be visible immediately after dark... http://www.dan.sp-agency.ca/www/rtoval.htm And a massive new X11 flare from the same sunspot as the last one JUST occured... http://www.sec.noaa.gov/rt_plots/xray_5m.html http://sec.noaa.gov/pmap/

<p>"It's headed straight for us like a freight train," said John Kohl, a solar astrophysicist at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics in Cambridge, Mass. "This is the real thing."</p> <p>Predictions are it could strike Earth's magnetic field by midday Wednesday.</p>

'Perfect solar storm' sends massive eruption Earth's wayBY SPACEFLIGHT NOWPosted: October 28, 2003 The third most powerful solar flare ever recorded erupted from the Sun earlier today, and scientists say Earth could feel the effects with communications disruptions and loss of power. Image from SOHO today showing the eruption. Credit: NASA/ESA/SOHO  At about 6 a.m. EST (1100 GMT), satellites watched as the event occurred. The flare was significantly larger than several unleashed since last week. "This is the real thing," says John Kohl, a solar astrophysicist at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics (CfA) and principal investigator for the Ultraviolet Coronagraph...

SEVERE SOLAR ACTIVITY: One of the most powerful solar flares in years, a remarkable X17-category explosion, erupted from sunspot 486 this morning at approximately 1110 UT. A strong solar radiation storm is in progress. The explosion hurled a coronal mass ejection almost directly toward Earth, which could trigger bright auroras when it arrives perhaps as early as tonight.

SEVERE SOLAR ACTIVITY: One of the most powerful solar flares in years, a remarkable X14-category explosion, erupted from sunspot 486 this morning at approximately 1110 UT. An intensifying S2-class solar radiation storm is in progress. The explosion almost certainly hurled a coronal mass ejection toward Earth, which could trigger bright auroras when it arrives on Oct 29th or 30th. Stay tuned for details.

Big solar storm will hit Earth Friday Oct 24th BOULDER, COLO. - A strong geomagnetic storm is expected to hit Earth on Friday. Scientists say it may knock out electrical grids and satellite communications. A "sunspot cluster" said to be 10 times the size of Earth could damage satellites and power grids, as well as cable TV, pager and cellular telephone service. Forecasters at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in Boulder, Colo., say it is one of the largest sunspot clusters in years. Larry Combs, a forecaster at the federal Space Environment Center in Boulder, says the sunspot cluster...

SOLAR EXPLOSIONS: Solar activity is high. An intense X5-class solar flare erupted today (Oct. 23rd at 8:35 UT) from sunspot 486 near the sun's southeastern limb. The explosion hurled a coronal mass ejection (CME) into space. See the movie. Although the CME was not Earth-directed, it could deliver a glancing blow to our planet's magnetic field as early as Oct 24th (although the 25th is more likely). Sunspotcycle.com Another CME was already en route when this morning's explosion occured. Pictured right, it was launched on Oct 22nd by an explosion near sunspot 484. Forecasters expect it to arrive on Oct....

Text below reproduces what is found on linked site; linked site has featured image of MAJOR sunspot group. Forecasters at the NOAA Space Environment Center in Boulder, Colo., observed two dynamic areas of the sun, one of which has produced a coronal mass ejection, or CME, Wednesday morning at 3 a.m. EDT that appears to be Earth-directed. The forecasters are predicting a strong geomagnetic storm, G-3 on the NOAA Space Weather Scales, that should reach Earth on Friday, October 24. (Click here to view larger image from the SOHO spacecraft of the intense solar activity on the sun taken Oct....