A Potentially Dangerous Sunspot

It's big, and a little weird. Sunspot 4246 has grown rapidly into one of the largest sunspots of Solar Cycle 25. Moreover, it has an unusual mixed-polarity magnetic field, shown in this Oct. 14th magnetic map from NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory:

Most sunspots have a simple or magnetic configuration, like that of an ordinary bar magnet. Nearby sunspot 4248 is a good example. Sunspot 4246 is different, though. It has multiple magnetic poles crowded together in a disorganized fashion.

And that's why this sunspot is potentially dangerous. When opposite polarities mix together too closely--boom!--magnetic reconnection can power strong solar flares. Don't be surprised if there's an X-flare on Oct. 14th.

Source: https://www.spaceweather.com/