Moderate eruptions beyond Sun’s western limb, more in the offing

moderate-eruptions-beyond-sun-s-western-limb-more-in-the-offing

Departing region 2051 produced 2 M-class and several C-class solar flares in last 24 hours. Newly numbered Region 2055 showed minor penumbral development in its trailer portion and should be on the watch.

At 22:09 UTC on May 6 Region 2051 erupted with M1.0 solar flare but, due to its position beyond western limb, the CME it generated is not Earth directed.

At 16:29 UTC today another M-class solar flare peaking as M1.2 was observed from the same region. Again, due to its position, CME is not Earth directed.

Nominal solar wind conditions are expected today. An increase in solar wind speed is expected during May 8 – 9 with the arrival of a recurrent coronal hole high-speed stream (CH HSS).

Geomagnetic field was quiet today and it is expected to remain like that through the rest of the UTC day. An increase to quiet to unsettled levels is expected on May 8 – 9, with a slight chance for active levels (less than G1-Minor), due to the influence of a recurrent CH HSS.

SWPC forecasters estimated 40% chance of M-class, and 10% chance of X-class solar flares in next two days.

Sunspots

There are currently 8 numbered sunspot regions on the Earth side of the Sun.

Newly numbered active regions 2055 and 2056 are fairly big and both have 'beta' magnetic field. Region 2055 showed minor penumbral development in its trailer portion and should be on the watch.

Other regions are either stable or in a state of gradual decay.

Old regions 2046 and 2038 are due to return in next 2 days.

Sunspots on May 7, 2014. Image credit: NASA SDO / HMI

2047 – Beta
2049 – Beta
2050 – Alpha
2051 – Beta-Gamma-Delta (rotated beyond west limb)
2052 – Beta
2053 – Beta
2054 – Alpha
2055 – Beta
2056 – Beta

Featured image: NASA SDO / AIA 304 on May 7, 2014 @ 16:35 UTC

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