May 12 2012 Sunspot AR1476 - 160,000 km Across and Still Growing [HD]

  
As we are approaching solar max peak we can expect some surprising things from our sun -- such as working up her magnetic field and then just deflate like a balloon and just as you're shoulders slump she whacks a big one at you with a warning never to underestimate the sun.

Region AR1476 is one of the largest regions since the 2003 Halloween Sunspots, and still growing bigger and more active with entanglements of magnetic fields. The sunspot looks a lot like Hawaii, but it is much bigger than any island on Earth. From end to end the sprawling active region stretches ~160,000 km, or a dozen times wider than our entire planet. If you have a sunspot telescope, take a look. The view is magnificent!