Eruption on farside solar western limb

Sunspot 1384, currently located just behind the sun’s western limb, erupted today around 14:45 UTC. It registered as a long duration C2.4 flare and it appears to be connected to magnetic filaments snaking over the horizon to the Earthside of the sun. This event produced a full halo CME, however it is directed to the west and not towards Earth.

Sunspot 1389 is in decay and poses a declining threat for M-class solar flares. NOAA/SWPC gives 15% chances of M-class event and only 1% for X-class solar flare.

Joint USAF/NOAA Report of Solar and Geophysical Activity (02 Jan 2012)

Solar activity was low. A few nominal C-class flares occurred. New Region 1391 (N13E81) was numbered today as it rotated around the East limb. Solar activity is expected to be very low to low with a slight chance for an M-class flare for the next 3 days (3-5 January).

The geomagnetic field was mostly quiet. The geomagnetic field is expected to be mostly quiet for day 1 (3 January). Activity is forecast to increase to mostly unsettled conditions with possible active periods on day 2 (4 January) with an anticipated solar sector boundary crossing (SSBC). Conditions should return to mostly quiet on day 3 (5 January).