Giant Sunspot AR3038 has Doubled in Size and is Pointed Right at Earth. Could be Auroras Coming

Even if sunspots double in size overnight and grow to twice the size of the Earth, they are not really a reason to be concerned. The Active Region 3038 is a sunspot that is facing Earth and could produce some solar flares. There is no reason to be concerned, but there is a chance that a spectacular event could occur.

Although scientists consistently point out that people are not at risk from sunspots, the popular media still worry about them. Rob Steenburgh is the head of the US's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration space weather forecast office.

This type of rapid growth is what we expect to see at this point in the solar cycle, the 11-year repeating pattern that began again in 2019. The types of dangerous solar flares that could knock out satellites or disrupt power grids are not usually produced by sunspots of this type. It isn't complex.

Flares are ejected from the solar system when the magnetic fields surrounding a sunspot break. They could cause damage to some infrastructure if they hit the Earth. When their ion hits Earth's own magnetic field, they are more likely to create a spectacularAurora.

They are rated in severity based on how weak they are. The most powerful solar flares, X20, occur less than once per 11-year solar cycle and don't face Earth.

There was a small chance of an X20 forming, but it was not likely to create a powerful X flare. There is a 25% chance that M flares will develop before it dies down in size and scale.

It doesn't appear that any of the flares will be directed at Earth, as AR3038 has moved out of view. In the last 24 hours, there were 6 flares in the region. There is a chance that the planet could be in the path of a C-class flare.

The rapid growth of AR3038 will prove to be another example of the public being concerned about what appears to be a threatening turn of events. With all the equipment currently set up to monitor the Sun, the general public can rest assured that we will have at least some warning before any potentially damaging flare affects our Earth bound systems. Don't hold your breath, it may be a while before that happens.

You can learn more.

Scientists say there is no need to panic as the sunspot can double in size overnight.

The sunspot the size of 3 Earths is facing us.

The sun has a minor storm.

Astronomy Jargon 101 is about sun spots.

The far side of the sun was the site of a ColosSAL Flare.