What's Happening on the Earth-Facing Side of the Sun Revealed

RAS: Almost all sunspots have disappeared on the Earth-facing side of the Sun

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The almost complete disappearance of sunspots, indicating a decrease in flare activity, was recorded at the Solar Astronomy Laboratory of the Space Research Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

"The most remarkable feature of recent days is the almost complete disappearance of spots on the side of the Sun facing the Earth. Apparently, the same is now happening on the other side," the laboratory said in a statement published on its Telegram channel.

Scientists note that the number and size of the remaining spots are so small that even in detailed space images it is difficult to detect more than four of the nine active regions.

Astronomers added that by the beginning of the new week the number of flares could "completely go to zero, to the delight of weather-dependent people and to the misfortune of radio amateurs." It should be noted that radio amateurs often use the ionosphere for long-distance radio communications, and solar flares can improve the conditions for the passage of radio waves, making communications easier and better.

The laboratory added that there is no reason to expect a rapid increase in solar activity yet, but geomagnetic storms associated with the approach of a coronal hole are expected starting Tuesday.