Sunspot 1564 unleashed another solar flare reaching M1.2

Sunspot 1564 produced M1.2 solar flare at 22:36 UTC on September 9. It is not appeared to be Earth-directed.

Another M class event was recorded day earlier. Sunspot 1564 produced an M1.4 long duration flare peaking at 17:59 UTC on September 8. CACTus reported two halo CME’s in the past days, both are not earth-directed. The CME observed at on September 7 was a back-sided event. The CME observed in LASCO at 08:10 UTC on September 8, is seen from STEREO-A as a halo CME and from STEREO-B as a back-sided event.

The greater than 2 MeV electron flux at geosynchronous orbit reached high levels during the period. Electron 2MeV Integral Flux exceeded 1000pfu at 15:20 UTC. Satellite systems may experience significant charging resulting in increased risk to satellite systems. Geomagnetic conditions are expected to remain quiet in the coming days.

Region 1564 showed little change during the period and retained a beta-gamma magnetic configuration. Newly-numbered Region 1568 emerged east of active region 1564 and rapidly developed into a D-type group with a beta-gamma magnetic configuration. It produced a single low-level C-class flare. There was no Earth-directed CME activity during the period. Sunspot 1562 is about to rotate onto the western limb.

Solar activity is expected to be low during September 10-12 with a chance for an isolated M-class flare. NOAA/SWPC estimates 25% chances of M-class event.

Geomagnetic field activity is expected to be at quiet levels with a chance for unsettled levels and a slight chance for active levels on September 12 due to the onset of a coronal hole high-speed stream.

CURRENT CONDITIONS:

Solar wind
speed: 336.6 km/sec
density: 0.5 protons/cm³

The Radio Sun
10.7 cm flux: 133 sfu

Interplanetary Mag. Field
B_total: 4.7 nT
B_z: 2.4 nT north 

Featured image credit: SDO