1 00:00:00,500 --> 00:00:02,733 This sunspot is a huge deal! 2 00:00:03,633 --> 00:00:06,100 In spring 2024, NASA’s 3 00:00:06,100 --> 00:00:07,733 Solar Dynamics Observatory 4 00:00:08,033 --> 00:00:09,466 captured the biggest sunspot 5 00:00:09,466 --> 00:00:11,633 we've seen in almost a decade. 6 00:00:12,300 --> 00:00:14,400 At almost 14 times the size of 7 00:00:14,400 --> 00:00:16,466 Earth, it was so large you could 8 00:00:16,466 --> 00:00:18,066 see it with your own eyes — 9 00:00:18,066 --> 00:00:19,366 using proper eye protection, 10 00:00:19,366 --> 00:00:20,300 of course! 11 00:00:21,133 --> 00:00:23,100 Sunspots form due to intense 12 00:00:23,100 --> 00:00:24,233 magnetic forces 13 00:00:24,233 --> 00:00:25,800 that block some of the Sun's heat 14 00:00:25,800 --> 00:00:27,133 from reaching the surface. 15 00:00:27,566 --> 00:00:28,866 As a result, sunspots 16 00:00:28,866 --> 00:00:30,500 are cooler than their surroundings 17 00:00:30,500 --> 00:00:32,400 and appear spots with a central 18 00:00:32,400 --> 00:00:34,133 dark area, the umbra, 19 00:00:34,133 --> 00:00:35,900 and a lighter outer area, 20 00:00:35,900 --> 00:00:36,933 the penumbra. 21 00:00:37,600 --> 00:00:39,000 Sunspots are frequently 22 00:00:39,000 --> 00:00:40,333 linked to solar flares, 23 00:00:40,333 --> 00:00:41,400 which are among the most 24 00:00:41,400 --> 00:00:42,833 powerful explosions in our 25 00:00:42,833 --> 00:00:43,866 solar system. 26 00:00:44,433 --> 00:00:45,700 This sunspot produced 27 00:00:45,700 --> 00:00:47,100 more than 100 flares 28 00:00:47,100 --> 00:00:48,400 and triggered several Earth- 29 00:00:48,400 --> 00:00:50,233 directed coronal mass ejections, 30 00:00:50,233 --> 00:00:51,700 which are explosive outbursts 31 00:00:51,700 --> 00:00:52,900 of magnetized plasma 32 00:00:52,900 --> 00:00:53,833 from the Sun, 33 00:00:53,833 --> 00:00:55,166 resulting in the historic 34 00:00:55,166 --> 00:00:57,533 May 2024 solar storms.