Sunspot group number 4478 has become the largest of 2026.
According to the Solar Astronomy Laboratory of the Russian Academy of Sciences' Space Research Institute, the group covers an area of approximately 1,200 units.
For comparison, the previous record holder was group 4366, which had an area of 1,100 units and produced an X8.1-class flare, setting a 21st-century record for the total number of powerful flares.
The laboratory added that there is currently no significant activity in this area, but weak plasma clouds are occasionally ejected. One of them is expected to reach Earth on June 30, and another on July 1.
