A huge magnetic filament erupted off the Sun's southwestern limb during the early hours of February 27, 2013. Most of the plasma looks to be headed away from the Earth though. On the Earth side of the Sun, Active Region 1682 developed a 'beta-gamma' magnetic configuration and now harbors energy for M-class solar flares. NOAA forecasters estimated a 15% chance of M-flares, and 01% chance of X-class.
Yesterday morning, February 26, 2013, STEREO Ahead Spacecraft captured a full-halo Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) off the farside of the Sun. The source appears to be a filament eruption in conjunction with activity near old region 1678.
Beta-Gamma "AR 1682" facing Earth
There are currently three numbered active regions on the disk. AR 1681 and AR 1680 still have Beta magnetic configuration but AR 1682 developed bipolar Beta-Gamma configuration and now harbors energy for M-class solar flares. AR 1682 is facing Earth so any eruption there would be Earth directed.
Featured image courtesy of NASA SDO.
