There’s currently a major sunspot region (designated AR4366 or Region 4366) facing Earth that’s been extremely active, producing multiple X-class solar flares—the strongest category—and raising concerns about potential for more huge flares.

This sunspot has grown rapidly and is one of the most active regions in the current solar cycle (Cycle 25). It’s massive, with reports describing it as roughly 6.5 to 15 times the diameter of Earth (or larger in some estimates), making it visible even without equipment under safe viewing conditions (never look directly at the Sun without proper solar filters!).

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From Watts Up With That?

By Anthony Watts

Via Spaceweather.com Sunspot AR4366 is shaping up to be the most active sunspot of Solar Cycle 25. In only two days, it has produced five X-class solar flares and shows no signs of slowing down. The giant sunspot is turning to face Earth, and we will be squarely inside its ‘strike zone’ for the rest of the week.

NOAA says that minor G1-class geomagnetic storms are likely on Feb 5-6 when a Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) is expected to graze Earth’s magnetic field. The CME was hurled into space by a powerful X8-class solar flare on Feb.1st. Even a glancing blow from such a CME can be potent, so don’t be surprised if the storm is stronger than expected.

“I captured this image of the sun on Feb. 2nd using my H-alpha telescope at a moment of intense solar activity,” says Poupeau. “The main feature is sunspot AR 4366, a true solar flare factory, which has produced dozens of M-class flares and 5 X-class flares, including a powerful X8 event, all within a few days.”

This sunspot is just getting started. It has an increasingly unstable ‘delta-class’ magnetic field, and it is rapidly adding new spots. More X-flares are likely in the days ahead, and they will be Earth directed.