AR4425

AR4425 (also known as 14425) is an active sunspot region currently located on the Earth-facing side of the Sun in late April and early May 2026. Here is the latest status of the region: Magnetic classification: It has recently been downgraded to a beta (β) configuration after losing its more complex "delta" structure, meaning its potential for powerful solar storms has decreased somewhat.

In recent days, AR4425 has been one of the more prominent regions, contributing to several C-class flares as well as occasional M-class (moderate) flares, including an M2.2 on April 26.

The region is currently moving across the northwestern quadrant of the Sun's disk. Although it has shown signs of decreasing complexity, it is still closely monitored by space weather services such as NOAA as it moves toward the edge of the Sun.

Photo taken through my back yard telescope 2026-05-01

Center of our galaxy

The center of our galaxy rises from the ocean late at night off the east coast of Sweden. The center of the Milky Way is the dense core of the galaxy, located about 25,000–28,000 light-years from Earth in the constellation Sagittarius. At its absolute center is the supermassive black hole Sagittarius A* (not visible in these photos, still under the sealine), which weighs about 4 million solar masses. The area is hidden behind thick space dust and is characterized by an extreme density of stars. 

The sun in Ha 2026-04-25

Today's sun with quite a lot of activity. On the western edge of the sun, prominences are seen, also activity from sunspot 4422 which is just over the edge on the eastern side. On the surface, sunspots 4420. 4421 and 4424 etc. are seen with flares which are seen as white areas, also filaments, seen as dark streaks.

Sunspots are temporary, dark and cooler areas on the sun's surface (the photosphere) caused by strong magnetic fields. They arise because the magnetic fields inhibit the flow of energy from within the sun, making these areas cooler than their surroundings. The spots are linked to the sun's activity and are the starting point for solar storms.

And otherwise, structures in the chromosphere are seen via my Ha solar filter.

Without special equipment, the chromosphere cannot normally be seen due to the overwhelming brightness from the photosphere, but it is clearly seen through bandpass filters set to the H-alpha spectral line.