Old Sunspot Region 1678 Returns

   A new active sunspot region is expected to rotate into view during this weekend (March 9-11). This is the well known old sunspot region 1678 making it's return.  In the image to the left we can see also another active region several day's behind it.


   Region 1678 was responsible for the massive CME that occured on the backside of the sun on March 5, 2013 (view that report HERE). Because of the activity sunspot 1678 maintained while on the backside, there has been much anticipation of this sunspot regions return.

Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) Arrives at STEREO

    Maybe you remember the very large solar flare and coronal mass ejection we reported three days ago on March 5. It seems that the Coronal Mass Ejection reached the spacecraft STEREO Behind and the animated image here shows that the Bz component of solar wind remained positive. The time and date can be found in the lower left corner.

That could be one reason why we actually have a time gap on Stereo.

Check Stereo here

New Sunspot numbered as 1690

  
   We have two sunspot regions which disappeared yesterday while one new region rotated into view over the north-east limb as a single spot HSX Alpha type group at 20 millionths in size and was numbered as region 1690.

 Region 1689 grew from a BXO Beta group at 10 millionths to a DSO Beta type group at 150 millionths in size.

Massive solar flare and CME from old Sunspot 1678

   Old region 1678 which is due to return during this coming weekend produced a MASSIVE solar flare and a spectacular full-halo coronal mass ejection.

   Unfortunately, it is not heading our way because this was a farsided event. But its heading for the STEREO Behind spacecraft.