After a few days of all show and no action, that big, scenic sunspot group let loose a powerful M-class flare early yesterday evening. The blast sent a giant cloud of solar plasma — electrons and protons bundled with magnetic energy — in Earth's direction that's expected to arrive Sunday (July 16) around lunch time and swell into a moderate (G2) geomagnetic storm toward nightfall. Strong and long, the Thursday night's event lasted for several hours .
As with the last storm in May, there will be no moon to lighten the sky, so if your forecast is good, be on the alert that evening. Watch for a pale green bow and rays in the northern sky toward the end of dusk.
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Back to Jupiter! Here are a couple extra photos from the recent flyover of the Great Red Spot.