Solar flare was sparked by five spinning sunspots

[ktlight]

The giant solar flare unleashed in February was caused by five rotating sunspots working in concert, the UK's National Astronomy Meeting has heard.

Images released from the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) clearly show the sunspots, which are centres of magnetic activity on the sun's surface.

As the magnetic fields build up, they "break", releasing vast amounts of energy in the form of heat and light.

The "X-class" flare was accompanied by 40 smaller flares in the same period.

Daniel Brown, an astronomer at the University of Central Lancashire, reported the results at the meeting in Llandudno, Wales.

The accompanying video combines data from the SDO's Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager, which shows the conditions on the Sun's surface, and the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly, which captured detailed pictures of its atmosphere.

source
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-13131535

[araucaria]

Asronomical data from Dan Brown eh? It'll all end up in bed. Thanks for the link though!

[Rocky_Shorz]

this is talking about a flare back in Feb...


The Sun has unleashed its strongest flare in four years, observers say.

The eruption is a so-called X-flare, the strongest type; such flares can affect communications on Earth.

Nasa's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) spacecraft recorded an intense flash of extreme ultraviolet radiation emanating from a sunspot.

The British Geological Survey (BGS) has issued a geomagnetic storm warning, and says observers might be able to see aurorae from the northern UK.

The eruptions are expected to hit the Earth's magnetic field over the next couple of days, causing an increase in geomagnetic activity.

The monster flare was recorded at 0156 GMT on 15 February and directed at the Earth. According to the US space agency, the source of this activity - sunspot 1158 - is growing rapidly.