Earth was treated to a rare and spectacular display of auroras in May, thanks to a series of solar storms triggered by a massive sunspot known as AR3664. The sunspot, which is more than twice the size of Earth, unleashed at least five solar storms that hit our planet simultaneously, causing colorful auroras to dance across the skies in an ultra-rare occurrence.
The auroras were particularly vivid because they occurred during a new moon, when there was no moonlight to interfere with their visibility. The last time we saw such a strong display of auroras from below the Arctic Circle was more than two decades ago.
Now, the monster sunspot is back. It has reappeared on the edge of the sun and is expected to be Earth-facing again during the new moon on June 6th. This means that we could see another round of auroras, particularly at high latitudes.
To catch a glimpse of the auroras, it is important to find a location far from city lights and obscuring clouds. You will also need to be patient, as auroras can be unpredictable. But if you are lucky, you may be treated to a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
In addition to the auroras, the sunspot could also trigger other space weather events, such as geomagnetic storms. These storms can disrupt power grids and satellite communications, so it is important to be aware of the potential risks.
Scientists are still studying the sunspot and its potential impact on Earth. But one thing is for sure: we are in for an exciting few weeks of space weather.
Here are some additional details about the sunspot and auroras:
* The sunspot is located in the sun’s active region 3664, which is a dark patch on the sun’s surface.
* The sunspot is about twice the size of Earth.
* The sunspot is rotating on its axis once every 27 days.
* The sunspot is expected to reach its peak activity in late May or early June.
* The auroras are caused by charged particles from the sun interacting with Earth’s magnetic field.
* The auroras are typically visible at high latitudes, but they can sometimes be seen at lower latitudes during strong solar storms.
