Daily Sun: January 9, 2025 (1/9/25) #PinoAstro

Solar observation of the sun today, Thursday, January 9, 2025 (1/9/25, 01/09/2025).

Original image courtesy of NSO GONG in H-alpha. Pino Astro image edit and video production.

This work utilizes GONG data obtained by the NSO Integrated Synoptic Program, managed by the National Solar Observatory, which is operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA), Inc. under a cooperative agreement with the National Science Foundation and with contribution from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The GONG network of instruments is hosted by the Big Bear Solar Observatory, High Altitude Observatory, Learmonth Solar Observatory, Udaipur Solar Observatory, Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias, and Cerro Tololo Interamerican Observato

Sunspot Clusters are also known as or called Active Regions.

Area of sunspots are measured in millionths of a solar hemisphere (MH).

For updates on today's Sun flares, visit:

Flare strength is rated on a scale that includes C-class, M-class, X-class and Proton-class flares.

Daily Sunspots is a series of short videos that document the spots on the sun every day that it's possible from my location. Generally, 10-30 seconds of RAW video is captured with a ZWO SeestarS50, when possible, and images are then stacked to create a more detailed final image.

If it's not possible for me to take my own images, files are downloaded from NASA's SDO HMI, and edited.

What are Sunspots?- Sunspots arise from magnetic disturbances that change how the outer layers of the sun regionally mix, uncovering cooler spots that appear darker on the surface of the sun.

What's the point?- Sunspots and sunspot clusters are part of solar active regions (AR). We track active regions on the sun because they can cause solar flares and coronal mass ejections (CME). Particles ejected from CMEs can hit the Earth several hours later (generally 15-18h) and cause aurora, and large solar storms can do damage to electronics, our electrical grid and satellites. Plus, sunspots look cool, and they are huge! Some can be several times the size of Earth.

Why should I care?- The Carrington Event was the most intense geomagnetic storm in recorded history, peaking on 1–2 September 1859 during solar cycle 10. It created strong auroral displays that were reported globally and caused sparking and even fires in telegraph stations. A geomagnetic storm of this magnitude occurring today has the potential to cause widespread electrical disruptions, blackouts, damage and human deaths due to extended cuts of the electrical power grid. A Carrington-class event today would result in between $0.6 and $2.6 trillion in damages to the U.S. alone.

Sun Observation- I try to post daily updates relatively early in the day so that others that have interest can see what's going on. I have heard from some other solar astronomers that they appreciate these short videos to see whether or not it's worth getting out their Hydrogen-alpha (H-alpha, Ha) solar telescopes, and it also gives them a preview of the sunspots and active regions.

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#sun #solar #sunspots #solarobservation #astronomy #astrophotography #sunspot #astronomia #solaractivity #shorts #2025

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NSO/GONG in Hydrogen-alpha (H-alpha or Ha, 656nm). This is a visible wavelength in the red spectrum, which an excited form of hydrogen emits. It's a great way to visualize details on the surface of the sun.

What are we looking for?: Prominences, filaments, and sunspots, which are associated with active regions, and those can produce solar flares!

Prominences are bright, tube-like structures of plasma raised off the surface of the Sun that can be observed against the of space.

Filaments are tubes of plasma that appear as dark strings against the bright backdrop of the sun.

What are Sunspots?- Sunspots arise from magnetic disturbances that change how the outer layers of the sun regionally mix, uncovering cooler spots that appear darker on the surface of the sun.

What is a normal amount of sunspots? 200 sunspots are a crazy amount! When least active, there are whole years without a single sunspot! The sun goes through 11 year cycles of activity. The peak of that activity is predicted to be next year (2025), so currently we are in a very active period.

What is the highest number of sunspots recorded on the sun?
The highest number of sunspots recorded on the sun was 382 on August 10, 2024. The second most was 337, the day before, on August 9, 2024. Before that it was 285, observed in March 1958. Another previous record high was 244, recorded in July 2001.

What's the point?- Sunspots and sunspot clusters are part of solar active regions (AR). We track active regions on the sun because they can cause solar flares and coronal mass ejections (CME). Particles ejected from CMEs can hit the Earth several hours later (generally 15-18h) and cause aurora, and large solar storms can do damage to electronics, our electrical grid and satellites. Plus, sunspots look cool, and they are huge! Some can be several times the size of Earth.