The solar storm that hit Earth in the first weeks of May was the most powerful in recent history. The storm produced a number of aurorae that were seen in many parts of the world, including India.
The storm originated from a giant sunspot region called AR3664, which was seen moving across Earth's horizon in May.
As soon as it appeared, two European spacecraft were positioned to capture this giant shape on the surface of our solar system's only star.
Look at both sides of the sun at the same time
A huge array of magnetic field lines were seen emerging and then passing through, giving a glimpse of the dynamic nature of these solar phenomena.
The sunspot was first observed in May by the European Space Agency's Proba-2, when it appeared to be rotating from Earth's perspective. The large active region produced a powerful X-class solar flare, which could potentially cause disruptions to technology and infrastructure on Earth due to the intense blast of radiation and charged particles.
As the sunspot disappeared from sight, it was observed again from a different vantage point by the ESA-led Solar Orbiter mission, revealing the complexity of these magnetic structures. The combined footage shows how solar activity such as sunspots is constantly evolving, with new regions emerging and existing spots fading away over time.
“This sunspot region was particularly large and complex, with multiple clusters of magnetic field lines,” said Dr. Melissa Ortiz, who analyzed the sunspot's structure. “Looking at these sunspots from different angles helps us better understand their magnetic fields and their potential effects on Earth.”
The Earth's magnetic field is directly affected by these sunspot regions, which can potentially cause disruptions to power grids, satellite communications, and other critical infrastructure. Tracking these sunspots is important to mitigate potential impacts and prepare for any disruptions they may cause.
“Solar Orbiter's position, combined with other missions observing the Sun from Earth, gives us a 360-degree view of the Sun for long periods of time. This will only happen three more times in Solar Orbiter's future,” said Solar Orbiter project scientist Daniel Müller.
Measurements from Solar Orbiter, Mars Express and BepiColombo made it clear that AR3664 was fully active and vibrant even when it was out of Earth's view. This serves as a warning for when the same region swings back into Earth's view.