January 8, 2014
You share your birthday with the light of distant galaxies that has been traveling for millions of years just to arrive here, now, alongside...
Sunspot at Sunset
Birthday · January 8, 2014
A little universe, just for you
Your date.
Ready to give.
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APOD published January 8, 2014. Credit: Jürg Alean. A publication-date match, not a photo taken on your date. Independent of NASA.
Sunsets may be the most watched celestial event, but lately sunsets have even offered something extra. A sunspot so large it was visible to the naked eye is captured in Swiss skies in this sunset scene from January 5, crossing left to right near the center of a solar disk dimmed and distorted by Earth's dense atmosphere. Detailed views reveal a large solar active region composed of sunspots, some larger than planet Earth itself. Cataloged as active region AR 1944, on January 7 it produced a substantial solar flare and a coronal mass ejection (CME) forecast to reach Earth. The CME could trigger geomagnetic storms and aurora on January 9.
Image credit: Jürg Alean