This weekend, the SunSun treated us to a wonderful sight.
Northern Lights were visible almost everywhere in the world.
Not only in polar regions, as usual, but also in Europe, Asia, Mexico, and Hawaii.
They were even visible from the International Space StationInternational Space Station.
AR3664, an Active Sunspot
Behind these Northern LightsNorthern Lights was a sunspot unlike any other.
A sunspot known as a “Carrington-class” spot – named after the one that triggered the Carrington eventCarrington event in 1859 – which caused a historic geomagnetic storm. The most significant in the last 20 years. It resulted from several successive coronal mass ejections (CMEsCMEs).
AR3664, a Gigantic Sunspot
The sunspot named AR3664 – actually comprised of almost 60 individual sunspots – appeared on the eastern edge of our StarStar at the beginning of May. Attention was initially on its larger counterpart, AR3663, which in less than four days had grown to ten times the size of Earth. However, in 24 hours, at the beginning of last week, AR3664 doubled in size. It now measures about 15 times the size of Earth! Making it almost visible to the naked eyeeye. “Almost” because observing the Sun without proper protection can damage vision. It could mainly be observed under certain conditions like a slightly hazy or veiled sunset, through cloudsclouds, or with a suitable filter.
Towards a New Aurora Borealis Shower?
The sunspot AR3663 has now moved towards the western edge of the Sun.
By May 15, it is expected to reach an area that astronomers describe as a “danger zone.” Even though it will no longer directly face Earth, it will remain magnetically connected to us. Therefore, eruptions occurring towards the end of this week could cause charged particles to spiral down into our atmosphereatmosphere. This could potentially trigger a new shower of northern lights.