New active region producing M-class solar flares

Friday, 6 March 2015 11:35 UTC

Coronagraph imagery is limited but all three of these events seem to have produced coronal mass ejections. They are of course not yet earth-directed due to this sunspot region's location on the east limb but it is great news that this sunspot region seems to be capable of producing eruptive solar flares.

Image: SOHO coronagraph animation showing three coronal mass ejections off the east limb.

Some sunspots are now rotating into view but we can not tell much about the sunspot region just yet. We will get a better look at this sunspot region in the next 24 hours as it rotates into view. This will enable us to see it's magnetic layout and judge it's flaring potential. It is however already a good sign that it managed to produce three M-class solar flares in such a short ammount of time. Are we in for a period of enhanced solar activity? It's about time!