Looks like we got a decent sized solar flare (X1 class) an hour or so ago. This is a far-ultraviolet view from SDO using helioviewer.org. The culprit appears to be the active region in the lower center.
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I'm not sure what effects the #flare is having, though there's a large radio blackout centered on South America that might be due to an earlier, less powerful flare.
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Bam! Now that is what I am talking about!! X1 flare from AR12887 peaking around 15:35 UTC. Flare gave us an R3 radio blackout. Loss of radio contact for about an hour on sunlit side of Earth.
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This isn't anything to worry about as far as zapping the planet and so on; the Sun flares like this as the magnetic cycle stengthens. Flares in 2003 were WAY WAY WAY bigger.
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But that sunspot looks pretty well set up for activity, and another one is rotating into view as well. The Sun is only starting to ramp up its cycle (which started last March or so). It's not clear if this cycle will be really strong or just average.
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In *perfect* timing, I'll be streaming LIVE today at 5:30 p.m. Eastern US time with my friend and astronomer about astronomical doomsday events! So I'll be sure to talk about this #flare. ☀️🧨🌎😁
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I just took a look at the Sun using solar-filtered binoculars (designed for solar viewing; do NOT try this unless you know what you're doing) and could easily see 3 spots including the big one that popped off the flare. Here's a visible-light SDO view from helioviewer.org
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