Moderate M1.7 solar flare erupted from geoeffective AR 1865

A moderate solar flare measuring M1.7 erupted on Sunday, October 13, 2013. The event peaked at 00:43 UTC and a Type II Radio Emission was associated. Type II emissions occur in association with eruptions on the Sun and typically indicate a Coronal Mass Ejection is associated with a flare event.

The eruption was centered around geoeffective Active Region 1865 located in southeastern quadrant and current forecast warns there could be a slightly Earth directed component. The material is expected to arrive on October 15.

M1.7 solar flare – October 13, 2013. Image credits: NOAA SWPC X-ray graph/SDO AIA 304/SAM EVE. Edit: The Watchers

Space Weather Message Code: ALTTP2
Serial Number: 871
Issue Time: 2013 Oct 13 0151 UTC

ALERT: Type II Radio Emission
Begin Time: 2013 Oct 13 0035 UTC
Estimated Velocity: 798 km/s
Description: Type II emissions occur in association with eruptions on the sun and typically indicate a coronal mass ejection is associated with a flare event.

Sunspots

There are currently 6 numbered sunspot regions on the disk. AR 1865, the source of today's M1.7 event, is located almost at the center of the disk and has beta-gamma-delta magnetic configuration, capable of producing strong solar flares. It is geoeffective so any future eruption from this region would most likely be Earth directed.

Sunspots – October 13, 2013. Image courtesy of NASA/SDO and the AIA, EVE, and HMI science teams​

1857 – Alpha
1861 – Beta-Gamma
1863 – Beta
1864 – Alpha
1865 – Beta-Gamma-Delta
1867 – Beta

NOAA SWPC forecasters estimated 40% chance for an M-class, and 15% chance for an X-class event today.

Featured image courtesy of NASA/SDO and the AIA, EVE, and HMI science teams