The third largest active region of the year has formed on the Sun.

The video shows the first of two expected large active regions approaching Earth, region 4294, located in the south. The sunspot group currently has an area of 800 units, making it the third largest this year. The long-decayed region 4079, observed in May and with an area of 1200 units at its peak, holds the first place. Earth will be able to see the second largest of the year, and its current shape, in just a couple of days. Region 4274, which hosted the two largest flares of the year earlier this month, appears to have survived on the far side of the Sun and should appear on its eastern left side today or tomorrow. 

The peaks of magnetic loops have been visible from the corresponding horizon for two days now, but the sunspot group itself is still hidden from observation. Its current state and whether it has the potential to repeat the events of three weeks ago are still unknown. It reached second place during its previous passage past Earth, reaching an area of 1,100 units on November 11-12. 

The area of active regions correlates quite closely with their flare activity. The most powerful flares in history, at least in the observable historical period, have occurred exclusively in large active centers. In the current 25th cycle, the largest area was active region 3664, responsible for the top-level magnetic storms of May 2024 (the first and so far only in the last 20 years). At that time, the area of this region at its peak was 2,400 units. Regarding events this year, it can be noted that the peak area of region 4274 precisely coincided with the formation of this year's largest flare, an X5.1 level, which occurred on November 11. 

Given its history, it's no surprise that, despite the impressive size of the active center 4294 already approaching Earth, the main focus continues to be on the northeastern horizon of the Sun, where the year's main star is about to appear. It has existed on the Sun for, frighteningly, almost two months now and is about to pass by Earth for the third time in a row, traditionally in a blaze of smoke and flame. Upon this new passage, the center, as is customary in solar physics, will receive a new, as yet unknown, number.