Sunspot 1363 subsiding, solar activity remains low

After three days of meteoric growth, sunspot AR1363 has reversed course and is beginning to decay. As its magnetic field relaxes, the active region poses a subsiding threat for strong flares. It’s not dead yet, though, as this snapshot shows:

There is still a slim chance that AR1363 will buck the trend and unleash a major M- or X-class eruption. If such an flare happens today, it will be geoeffective because the sunspot is facing Earth. Quiet, however, is more likely. (SpaceWeather)

Solar wind
speed: 296.8 km/sec
density: 2.6 protons/cm³

The Radio Sun
10.7 cm flux: 158 sfu

Planetary K-index
Now: Kp= 0 quiet
24-hr max: Kp= 1 quiet

Interplanetary Mag. Field
B_total: 2.1 nT
B_z: 0.4 nT south 

Despite the numerous visible sunspot regions, including Sunspot 1363 which has a Beta-Gamma magnetic classification, solar activity has been fairly low over the past 48 hours. The largest flare thus far was a C6.9 which occurred Monday evening. There will remain the risk of an M-Class event on Tuesday. (SolarHam)

Joint USAF/NOAA Report of Solar and Geophysical Activity (06 Dec 2011)
Solar activity was low. Region 1363 (S22W20) produced the sole C-class event, a C6 x-ray flare at 05/2325Z.
Solar activity is expected to be low for the next 3 days (7-9 December).
The geomagnetic field was quiet and is expected to be mostly quiet for the next 3 days (7-9 December). (NOAA/SWPC)

Chillymanjaro

This author does not have any more posts.