[PPRAANet] Fw: [WSVHF] Huge sunspot groups

[Roger Eslick]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Shelby Ennis, W8WN" <vhfw8wn@bbtel.com>
To: <hsms@mailman.qth.net>; <wsvhf@mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Thursday, October 23, 2003 8:36 AM
Subject: [WSVHF] Huge sunspot groups


> The following are portions of three Astro Alerts from Solar
Terrestrial
> Dispatch at http://www.spacew.com .  Some of this is more recent than
what
> is on the Hot News page.
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
-------
> Not one, but TWO intense active regions are now visible on the Sun.
>
>       The first and thus far the largest region (Region 484)  now
covers an
> area of more than 5,200 million square kilometers. That is larger than
the
> surface areas of all of the inner planets (Mercury, Venus, Earth and
Mars)
> combined - with more than enough room left over for an additional
planet
> having the surface area of the Earth)! Region 484 is easily visible to
the
> unaided (but protected!) eye.
>
>       Another active region has just rotated into view around the
> southeastern limb of the Sun.  This region is now visible on the limb.
It's
> size is still difficult to discern given its proximity to the limb.
But it
> has proven to be a powerful sunspot complex capable of very energetic
activity.
>
>      A middle latitude auroral activity Watch has been issued for the
24
> and 25 October period. A coronal mass ejection observed on 22 October
has
> been determined to be partially Earthward directed. The disturbance
has the
> potential to produce periods of moderately strong auroral activity
over
> many dark-sky middle latitude locations. The moon's near-new phase
will
> also enhance the ability to detect faint auroral emissions.
>
>       If the disturbance arrives as predicted, near the mid-UTC hours
of 24
> October, the best locations to observe activity will probably be
extreme
> southern Australia, New Zealand and Europe. Timing may be poor for
North
> America, unless the disturbance arrives later than predicted. For
North
> Americans, the best opportunity will probably occur during the evening
> hours of 25 October. But a quick peek at the skies during the early
morning
> hours of 24 October wouldn't hurt either.
> [Of course, radio isn't hindered by sunshine.  Some of our best
auroras in
> the past have occurred in mid-afternoon].
>
>     At 08:35 UTC (4:35 am EDT) on 23 October, a powerful class X5.4
solar
> flare erupted from Region 486 on the southesatern solar limb.
Significant
> limb activity has been associated with this active region, giving
> telescopic observers a real treat.
>
>       Additional significant solar activity is expected to persist
over the
> coming days. Region 486 is still too close to the limb to discern any
> significant structural detail. Until it rotates more into view, it
will be
> difficult to assess the evolution and potential future volatility of
this
> region.
>
>       This watch will remain valid through 23:00 UTC (7 pm EDT) on 25
> October. It will then be updated or allowed to expire. For updated
> information, visit: http://www.spacew.com/aurora/forum.html. For
real-time
> plots of current activity, visit: http://www.spacew.com/plots.html
>
>
>
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