(SNES) Sunspot 486 Explodes with a Ultra Flare

["Les Coleman" <les11@cox.net>]

Mega Sunspot 486 has just exploded with the *all * time* largest flare - far exceeding the
prior greatest flare of April 2001 which classed as a X20 flare. The actual rating of the
Nov 4, 2003 flare has not been given an X## because it exceeds what they thought was
possible. It is so violent that it has forced the sensors in GOES (the monitoring
satellite) to shutdown to avoid being totalled, so we may never accurately know how
powerful it   was. While the CME that it produced was not aimed even in the general
direction of Earth, it is so large and violent and it is spreading out so much that we may
get some more spectacular auroras.

In southern New England  we probably won't see anything because of clouds but sometimes
auroras are so bright they illuminate the clouds giving eerie outlines. Auroras from the
fringe of the CME are likely Nov 5&6.

Les Coleman
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