We are going to have a partial solar eclipse tomorrow afternoon. I went out this morning to take some practice shots of the sun and it just so happens that major sunspot AR 2192 is transiting the nearside of the solar disc. There are several other smaller sunspots visible. Click on the image to enlarge.
As for the eclipse, there are some details about it on NASA.
And more about this giant sunspot at SpaceWeather.com:
Earth-effects could increase in the days ahead. AR2192 has an unstable ‘beta-gamma-delta’ magnetic field that harbors energy for powerful explosions, and the active region is turning toward Earth. NOAA forecasters estimate at 65% chance of M-class flares and a 20% chance of X-flares during the next 24 hours.
Watch for some of our eclipse photos here after the event.
UPDATE: Sunspot 2192 has moved to the right and is in a position almost directly facing the Earth. Click here to view photo taken 23 Oct 14.
HF Propagation has been pretty good the last few days.
There ought to be some pretty good sporadic E on VHF/UHF as well. I don’t have the setup here to tell.
Wonder if we have a shot at another Aurora in the Southwest?
It wouldn’t surprise me. M or X class flares from a spot like this one have caused a lot of spectacular auroras and at least some power grid anomalies. We’ll keep watching.