C9.5 solar flare erupted from Sunspot 1762, geomagnetic activity subsided

Nearly M-class solar flare was released from Active Region 1762 in the southern hemisphere. Strong C9.5 flare erupted at 07:25 UTC on June 3, 2013. The event started at 07:03, peaked at 07:25 UTC and ended at 07:42 UTC.

GOES X-Ray flux shows C9.5 solar flare on June 3, 2013 (Credit: NOAA/SWPC)

Strong flare seen on STEREO COR2 imagery (Credit: NASA/STEREO)

There are currently five numbered sunspots on visible disk.Sunspot 1762 has a Beta-Gamma magnetic structure and is capable of producing M-class flare. New Sunspot 1764 continue to slowly expand but with no significant flaring activity. NOAA/SWPC forecasters estimate 20% chance of M-class events.

Geomagnetic storming subsided after period of G2 (Moderate) geomagnetic storm level. The solar wind speed flowing past Earth remains elevated near 700 km/s. Solar wind speed, as measured by the ACE spacecraft, reached a peak speed of 822 km/s at 11:27 UTC on June 2, 2013.

G2 (Moderate) geomagnetic activity started  at June 1, 2013 and subsided on June 2, 2013. (Credit: NOAA/SWPC)

Big coronal hole is facing Earth and solar wind flowing from this coronal hole should hit Earth's magnetic field on June 3-4, 2013. NOAA/SWPC forecasters estimate 40% chances of new geomagnetic activity in the next 24 hours.

CURRENT CONDITIONS (11:17 UTC, June 3, 2013)

Solar wind
speed: 696.5 km/sec
density: 2.0 protons/cm3

Planetary K-index
Now: Kp= 2 quiet
24-hr max: Kp= 3 quiet

Interplanetary Mag. Field
Btotal: 3.2 nT
Bz: 0.3 nT north