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CHANCE OF FLARES: NOAA forecasters estimate a 70% chance of M-class solar flares and a 25% chance of X-flares on Sept. 30th. The likely source would be giant sunspot AR2422, which has an unstable ‘beta-gamma-delta’ magnetic field. Radio blackouts and radiation storms are possible if the sunspot explodes.
UNSTABLE PROMINENCE: If sunspot AR2422 does not explode today, something else might. A spectacular prominence is dancing along the western limb of the sun:
Prominences are clouds of hot plasma held above the sun’s surface by solar magnetic fields. The magnetic infrastructure of this prominence appears to be connected to an active sunspot (AR2423) just behind the sun’s western limb. If that sunspot flares, it could destabilize or even destroy the prominence. Amateur astronomers with solar telescopes are encouraged to monitor developments.