Recent solar activity

Sunspot 1393 is growing rapidly, more than tripling in area since Friday. So far, however, the active region has not produced any strong flares. Solar activity remains low.

Solar activity increased somewhat, with a solar flare detected around Sunspot 1386 off the western limb early Sunday morning. This event registered C4.9, but may have been larger due to its location out of direct Earth view. Another bright Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) was spotted, this time off the southeast limb. Sunspot 1393 continues to expand in the north and is producing C-Class flares.

A second Coronal Mass Ejection in as many days is seen in the latest images, this time off the southeast limb. Watch the movie below by STEREO Behind and Lasco C2. This event is not Earth directed.

There was no sharp change in the solar wind speed signaling a CME’s passage. There was, however, a surge in ground currents in northern Norway during the late hours of Jan. 7th.

Current conditions:

Solar wind
speed: 438.8 km/sec
density: 4.3 protons/cm³

X-ray Solar Flares
6-hr max: C1 1319 UT Jan08
24-hr: C4 0227 UT Jan08

The Radio Sun
10.7 cm flux: 141 sfu

Planetary K-index
Now: Kp= 1 quiet
24-hr max: Kp= 2 quiet

Interplanetary Mag. Field
B_total: 5.7 nT
B_z: 2.3 nT north 

Joint USAF/NOAA Report of Solar and Geophysical Activity (08 Jan 2012)

Solar activity has been at low levels for the past 24 hours. Region 1393 (N16W45) continues to grow in both areal coverage and magnetic complexity. The largest event of the period was a C4 x-ray event from around the east limb. A non Earth directed CME was observed in LASCO C2 and C3 imagery around 08/0212Z. Region 1395 (N22E59) was numbered early in the period. Solar activity is expected to be at low levels for the next three days (09-11 January).

The geomagnetic field has been at quiet levels for the past 24 hours. Solar wind characteristics, as measured by the ACE spacecraft, indicate the continuing effects of a weak coronal hole high-speed stream. The geomagnetic field is expected to remain at mostly quiet levels for the next three days (09-11 January).

 

Featured image credit: Aurora seen from Sommaroy (“Summer island”) close to Tromso, North Norway by Bjørn Jørgensen