A DANGEROUS SUNSPOT: Big sunspot AR3288 has an unstable 'delta-class' magnetic field that harbors energy for powerful X-class solar flares. If such an explosion does occur today, it will be geoeffective. The sunspot is almost directly facing Earth. Solar flare alerts: SMS Text.

Pepe Manteca has been watching the sunspot from Begues, Spain: "Today, region AR3288 has emitted 4 C-class solar flares. I was fortunate to be able to capture this C8.8-class explosion from beginning to end."

"It was very exciting!" he says.

Compared to the X-flares AR3288 is capable of unleashing, these C-flares are minor and weak. A steady diet of weak may be draining energy from the active region, preventing it from unleashing the Big One. Amateur astronomers with solar telescopes are encouraged to monitor developments. As Manteca's photos show, even "weak" flares can be very photogenic.

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SILVER SNOOPY SPACE PENDANT: Snoopy has touched space. This sterling silver pendant flew to the stratosphere on April 15, 2023, floating on a cosmic ray balloon 117,400 feet above the Sierra Nevada mountains of central California:

You can have it for $159.95. Space Snoopy makes a great birthday, anniversary or Mother's day gift. The students of Earth to Sky Calculus are selling space pendants to support their cosmic ray ballooning program. Each one comes with a greeting card showing the pendant in flight and telling the story of its journey to the stratosphere and back again

Far Out Gifts: Earth to Sky Store
All sales support hands-on STEM education

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