Heads up! Solar activity high

January 20, 2010

Currently a solar storm is underway along with M class flares from Sunspot 1041

http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/

http://www.n3kl.org/sun/noaa.html

http://www.spaceweather.com/

Current conditions

Solar windspeed: 512.3 km/secdensity: 6.5 protons/cm3explanation | more dataUpdated: Today at 2134 UT

AURORA ALERT: High-latitude sky watchers should be alert for auroras. Earth is entering a dense solar wind stream and this could trigger polar geomagnetic storms.

CRACKLING SUNSPOT: Old sunspot 1039 is crackling with solar flares. Over the past 48 hours, it has produced five M-class eruptions. Click on the image to play a movie of the latest, an M2-blast recorded by STEREO-B at 1756 GMT on Jan. 20th:

The ongoing sequence of flares signals a sharp upturn in solar activity. Before this week, the last time the sun produced even a single M-class solar flare was in March 2008--almost two years ago. M-class solar flares have a moderate effect on Earth. Mainly, they boost the usual ionization of Earth's upper atmosphere, causing short-lived radio blackouts at some frequencies and radio enhancements at others. For an example, scroll down and read the section "Ionospheric Disturbance."

Today, the active region responsible for these fireworks is emerging over the sun's eastern limb where it can be seen from Earth: finder chart. Readers with solar telescopes are encouraged to monitor developments.

http://www.solarcycle24.com/

Sunspot 1041 / Solar Update 01/20/2010 by Kevin VE3EN at 16:20Comment on Message Board

Bz tilting south - The Bz has been tilting south at times and this could stir up some aurora activity at high latitudes.

New Sunspot 1041 (old sunspot 1039) is now starting to rotate into view and there is a small sunspot visible on the eastern limb. An M1.8 Solar Flare took place at 10:59 UTC Wednesday. There will continue to be a chance for C-Class and M-Class flares from this active region and by this evening we should have a better look at this sunspot to see just how big it is.

C5.0 Flare at 04:58 UTC Wednesday

M2.3 Flare - The first registered M-Class flare of Cycle 24 has taken place at 13:41 UTC Tuesday around the new region about to rotate into view on the Eastern Limb. Another low level M-Class flare and several C-Class flares have taken place from new Sunspot 1041.

The M2.3 flare did cause an R1 Radio Blackout according to NOAA. More minor radio blackouts can be expected due to the new region.

M2.3 Captured by STEREO Behind (Tuesday)

SolarCycle24.com - Mobile v1.0

I now have a mobile version of my website in a testing phase. Here is a sneak peak below. This will officially launch soon. It will basically put all important information found on this website into a mobile friendly format.

Days since last "official" sunspot: 1 From the Space Weather Prediction Center

Updated 2010 Jan 19 2201 UTC

Joint USAF/NOAA Report of Solar and Geophysical Activity

SDF Number 019 Issued at 2200Z on 19 Jan 2010

Analysis of Solar Active Regions and Activity from 18/2100Z to 19/2100Z: Solar activity was moderate. The new region rotating on to the east limb (new Region 1041, near S27) produced an M2.3 flare at 19/1341Z and an M1.7 flare at 19/2035Z, as well as three C-flares.

Solar Activity Forecast: Solar activity is expected to be low to moderate. Occasional C-class flares are expected. Isolated M-class flares are likely.

Geophysical Activity Summary 18/2100Z to 19/2100Z: The geomagnetic field was quiet.

Geophysical Activity Forecast: The geomagnetic field is expected to be quiet to unsettled, with isolated active levels at high latitudes, on day one (20 January) due to a coronal hole high-speed stream. Quiet levels are expected to return on days two and three (21-22 January). [Latest Report]

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