[South Florida DX Association] SpaceWeather - APPROACHING ACTIVE REGION

[Bill]

*APPROACHING ACTIVE REGION: *A significant active region is about to 
emerge over the sun's northeastern limb. The underlying sunspots are not 
yet visible from Earth, but the region's towering magnetic canopy is 
already in view. NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) took this 
picture during the early hours of Feb. 23rd:

<http://www.spaceweather.com/swpod2011/23feb11/approaching_ar_strip.jpg?PHPSESSID=mbck46ki6983qgv8q9tthe2ik4>

A better view is had by NASA's STEREO-B probe, stationed over the sun's 
eastern limb where it can see the region from top down. Recent 
<http://stereo.gsfc.nasa.gov/browse/2011/02/21/behind_20110221_euvi_195_512.mpg> 
movies 
<http://stereo.gsfc.nasa.gov/browse/2011/02/22/behind_20110222_euvi_195_512.mpg> 
beamed back by STEREO-B show flashes of extreme UV radiation and hints 
of magnetic instability. This could herald a period of renewed solar 
activity when the region turns toward Earth in the days ahead. Or the 
action could peter out beforehand. Stay tuned for updates.