The largest complex of sunspots observed in 2025 has completely disappeared from the surface of the Sun. This was reported by specialists from the Solar Astronomy Laboratory of the Institute for Space Research (IKI) of the Russian Academy of Sciences.
According to scientists, we are talking about a group of spots under the numbers 4294–4298. At its peak, its area reached about 2.3 thousand millionths of the solar hemisphere — one of the largest values in the entire history of observations. For comparison, region 4341, which caused the largest radiation storm of the 21st century in January 2026, had an area of only about 500 units.
Despite its gigantic size, the 4294–4298 complex never produced a single powerful flare. Scientists note that the entire mass of spots and the energy associated with them was absorbed by the Sun without emissions or violent events. The laboratory added that the corresponding area is now visible again from Earth, but is completely devoid of active structures.
Why this matters: sunspots are an indicator of star activity and a source of powerful flares that affect radio communications, satellites, and power grids on Earth. The disappearance of such a large complex without flares is a rare and interesting phenomenon, showing how unpredictably the Sun behaves even at the peak of its 25th activity cycle.
Scientists continue to monitor the surface of the star. New active regions are expected to appear in the coming weeks, as the Sun is still in its maximum phase, when the probability of powerful flares and magnetic storms remains high.
