Update May 9, 2024 at 10:00 p.m.
A huge spot appeared on the sun. What’s going to happen ?
Active sun
Solar activity seems to be picking up again. A major disturbance is visible to the naked eye with simple glasses used to observe an eclipse. This spot is named AR3664. According to scientists, it measures 200,000 km, or about 15 times the size of our Earth. But what are the consequences of such an event?
Major solar flares
When our star activates in such a way, major solar flares can occur. These coronal mass ejections produce the northern lights, but can have other, more unfortunate consequences. If a major Category X event occurred, the most powerful eruption possible, our communications systems could be paralyzed.
Memory of 1859
A spot of the same size was reported in 1859. The geomagnetic storm of 1859, also called the Carrington event, was so powerful that auroras were visible as far away as Cuba and Hawaii. According to the Source Spaceweather.com, the AR3664 spot is not likely to repeat the 1859 event.
Source: Spaceweather.com
