The sun is stirring

NASA's STEREO-B spacecraft is monitoring an active region hiddenbehind the sun's eastern limb.

On May 5th, it produced an impressive coronal mass ejection (CME) and a burst of radio emissions signalling the passage of a shock wave through the sun's outer atmosphere.

Activity continued apace on, May 6th, with at least two more eruptions. The blast site is not yet visible from Earth, but the sun is turning the region toward us for a better view.

Is a new-cycle sunspot in the offing?

Readers with solar telescopes could see it emerge as early as May 7th or 8th.

Item from Space Weather News for May 6, 2009
http://spaceweather.com/