On This Day in 2003
On this day back in 2003, A large Sunspot numbered 486 rotated into view off the eastern limb. It was responsible for numerous major solar flares which directly lead to what many remember as the 2003 Halloween Solar Storms. Extreme Geomagnetic activity resulted and this generated one of the best visible Aurora displays of all time. Currently Sunspot 1598 is following the same path, however it not yet anywhere near the complexity of old Sunspot 486. Will there be Aurora in store for us this Halloween? Stay Tuned.

Sunspot 486 on October 23, 2003

very odd, sunspots look nearly the same.

1598-486= 1112 I wonder if sunspots have patterns like that over entire cycles. Never thought of it but its totally possible.

[link to solarham.net]