UPDATE:
BIG SUNSPOT: One of the largest sunspot groups in years rotated over the sun's northeastern limb this weekend. With a least four dark cores larger than Earth, AR1476 sprawls more than 100,000 km from end to end, and makes an easy target for backyard solar telescopes. Amateur astronomer Alan Friedman sends this picture of the behemoth from his backyard in Buffalo, NY:
"AR1476 is firecrackler," says Friedman. Indeed, the active region is crackling with impulsive M-class solar flares. Based on the sunspot's complex 'beta-gamma' magnetic field, NOAA forecasters estimate a 70% chance of more M-flares during the next 24 hours. There is also a 5% chance of powerful X-flares.
"This one is going to be fun as turns to face us!" predicts Friedman. He might be right.
Sump'n Else,
1. The moon is leaving perigee, and in an orbital position that seems to exacerbate quakes.
2. There is a coronal hole created by the sunspot above that is about to face the earth. British Astrophysicist Piers Corbyn believes coronal holes facing the earth, contribute to increased earthquake activity.
3. We're experiencing a lull in 5+ magnitude quakes. Recent lulls have been followed immediately by significant quakes and activity.
Recent Average Day:
MAP 5.2 2012/05/03 18:08:06 17.479 -85.137 24.0 NORTH OF HONDURAS
MAP 5.1 2012/05/03 16:14:19 -5.492 152.231 57.7 NEW BRITAIN REGION, PAPUA NEW GUINEA
MAP 5.0 2012/05/03 15:20:28 39.058 29.129 9.7 WESTERN TURKEY
MAP 5.2 2012/05/03 10:19:37 40.513 98.568 13.0 GANSU-NEI MONGOL BORDER REGION, CHINA
MAP 5.5 2012/05/03 10:09:36 32.814 47.712 10.0 IRAN-IRAQ BORDER REGION
MAP 5.0 2012/05/03 04:59:57 21.430 -108.759 10.2 OFF THE COAST OF BAJA CALIFORNIA SUR
Activity for the Last 4 Days:
MAP 5.3 2012/05/07 14:15:15 41.561 46.710 11.9 AZERBAIJAN
MAP 5.6 2012/05/07 04:40:30 41.541 46.766 23.3 AZERBAIJAN
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MAP 5.0 2012/05/06 12:40:59 -13.883 -75.793 59.1 CENTRAL PERU
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MAP 5.5 2012/05/05 20:23:31 -21.403 -174.126 3.9 TONGA
MAP 5.2 2012/05/05 20:12:34 38.185 141.667 50.9 NEAR THE EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
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MAP 5.0 2012/05/04 16:23:44 2.009 89.675 14.5 NORTH INDIAN OCEAN
I know y'all don't want to hear it; I'm just sayin'...