LITTLE GREEN CANNONBALLS OF LIGHT: Researchers and citizen scientists have just discovered a new phenomenon: "Little green cannonballs of light" streaking through the atmosphere faster than 1000 mph during some geomagnetic storms. And, no, they're not auroras: FULL STORY.
IS THIS SUNSPOT CRACKING UP? Around the world, amateur astronomers are photographing AR2786--the biggest sunspot in years. Everyone is starting to notice something: The sunspot appears to be cracking up. Note the two canyons of light cutting across AR2786 in this photo from Eduardo Schaberger Poupeau of Rafaela, Argentina:
These are called "light bridges"--bright fissures that sometimes appear in big sunspots. The light bridges in AR2786 are ~15,000 km long, about as wide as Earth. These dimensions make them easy targets for safely-filtered amateur telescopes.
The nature of light bridges is not fully understood. Some research suggests that magnetic fields at the base of a light bridge are busy cross-crossing and reconnecting--the same explosive process that sparks solar flares. If so, AR2786 might be preparing to erupt.
On the other hand, light bridges sometimes signal the impending disintegration of a sunspot. They literally "crack up." Bottom line: We have no idea what will happen next. Monitoring is encouraged. Solar flare alerts: SMS Text.
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