* Astronomy

A new Sunspot has emerged over the Suns eastern limb.

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Credit: SOHO/MDI

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Credit: SOHO/MDI

Sunspots 11343, 11342, 11341, 11340, 11339, 11338 and 11334

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Credit: SOHO/MDI

Monster sunspot poses threat of significant solar storms

A major sunspot is presently emerging on the surface of the solar disk facing Earth. According to Jess Whittington at NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC), the huge and still growing sunspot is the most active part of the sun since 2005.
The area is called Region 1339 and is being referred to as a "benevolent monster." 8.3 times bigger than Earth, it generated a solar flare which shot out a burst of charged particles yesterday but - this time - was not aimed at Earth.
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