October 5 CME hits Earth – Geomagnetic storm in progress
Image credit: TW
The ACE Spacecraft detected a sudden solar wind increase to over 400 km/s at 04:30 UTC. A weak coronal mass ejection (CME) hit Earth’s magnetic field on Oct. 8th at approximately 05:00 UTC. 15 minutes after A Geomagnetic Sudden Impulse (21 nT) was registered.
Low energy particles, measured at ACE, indicated a steady rise associated with the approaching October 5 CME. High-latitude sky watchers should be alert for auroras, especially during the hours around local midnight.
New Region 1586 rotated yesterday onto the disk as an H-type spot group. A 30 degree long filament, centered near S65W15, erupted during the period. SDO imagery first observed movement along the filament channel on October 6 with ejecta visible off the SW limb on October 7.
LASCO C2 imagery observed a partial-halo CME lifting off the SW limb first visible at 08:12 UTC on October 7. WSA-Enlil model forecast a possible weak Earth-directed component of this CME.
Continued minor storm conditions are expected early on October 9, decreasing to mostly quiet to unsettled levels
with a chance for isolated active periods as effects from the CME wane. Quiet to unsettled conditions with a chance for isolated active periods are expected on October 10 due to effects from a recurrent coronal hole high-speed stream coupled with a possible glancing blow from the October 7 CME.
This video bellow is showing October 5 CME leaving the Sun.
CURRENT CONDITIONS:
Solar wind
speed: 362.7 km/sec
density: 10.8 protons/cm3
The Radio Sun
10.7 cm flux: 99 sfu
Planetary K-index
Now: Kp= 4 unsettled
24-hr max: Kp= 4 unsettled
Interplanetary Mag. Field
Btotal: 14.6 nT
Bz: 12.5 nT south
Space Weather Message Code: ALTK06
Serial Number: 295
Issue Time: 2012 Oct 08 0836 UTC
ALERT: Geomagnetic K-index of 6
Threshold Reached: 2012 Oct 08 0834 UTC
Synoptic Period: 0600-0900 UTC
Active Warning: Yes
NOAA Scale: G2 – Moderate
NOAA Space Weather Scale descriptions can be found at
Potential Impacts: Area of impact primarily poleward of 55 degrees Geomagnetic Latitude.
Induced Currents – Power grid fluctuations can occur. High-latitude power systems may experience voltage alarms.
Spacecraft – Satellite orientation irregularities may occur; increased drag on low Earth-orbit satellites is possible.
Radio – HF (high frequency) radio propagation can fade at higher latitudes.
Aurora – Aurora may be seen as low as New York to Wisconsin to Washington state.
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