A mega-spot three times larger than the diameter of the Earth has formed on the Sun

A flare in this region of the star threatens us with a direct blow from powerful solar plasma

A complex magnetic structure has formed on the Sun from many spots, 3 times the diameter of the Earth. Since this active region, number 3590, “looks” directly at our planet, experts do not exclude a powerful direct emission of solar plasma in our direction.

As MK was informed at the Institute of Terrestrial Magnetism and Radio Wave Propagation of the Russian Academy of Sciences, as active zone 3590 emerged from behind the solar limb, it managed to give birth to three powerful flares of the highest class X (this happened from February 21 to 22) and several subsequent ones outbreaks of classes C and M. Such a powerful event, according to experts, has not happened since 2017.

According to the head of the Space Weather Forecast Center IZMIRAN, Candidate of Physical and Mathematical Sciences Artem Abunin, previous solar plasma emissions that scientists recorded passed away from the Earth, which means that they could not lead to strong magnetic storms.

Now the situation has changed in a way that is not very favorable for us – a group of sunspots has lined up in the center of the visible solar disk. The photographs transmitted to Earth by the American SDO observatory show sunspots with particularly dark areas in which the magnetic field is 10 thousand times higher than the Earth’s.

At the time of writing, the giant sunspot was about 40 thousand kilometers, which is three times the diameter of the Earth.

Now, within three days, our planet will be in the zone of maximum risk of receiving a strong “solar strike.” If the “3590” region erupts in a powerful flare, then the solar wind will be directed directly to the Earth, and we will not be able to avoid a strong magnetic storm. The event will lead to the appearance of bright auroras not only in northern and middle latitudes, but also in southern latitudes, for example, in Turkey.

Events from the danger zone are expected until March 1. If the impact is very strong, it could disrupt the functioning of technical devices around the world, and the consequences in the form of a magnetic storm could worsen the well-being of patients with chronic diseases.

According to NOAA – the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, a group of sunspots numbered 3590 has become the leader of the current 11-year solar cycle. You can see it without using a telescope! However, in no case should this be done without protective filters.

According to the AstroAlert group of astronomers, it is necessary to observe a mega-spot on the Sun at the moment of sunrise or sunset, until its brightness becomes too dangerous for vision. The safest option for observation is a welding helmet with a sufficient degree of darkness.