• Long-duration X2.2 solar flare erupts from Region 3229, full halo CME produced

    A long-duration solar flare measuring X2.2 at its peak erupted from AR 3229 (beta) at 20:16 UTC on February 17, 2023. The event started at 19:38 and ended at 20:50 UTC. A full halo Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) was produced and it appears there is an Earth-directed component. The estimated time of arrival is February 20.

  • Earth hit by slow-moving CME, triggers G1-Minor geomagnetic storm; second CME on the way

    A slow-moving coronal mass ejection (CME) that left the sun on February 11, 2023, reached our planet today, causing G1 – Minor geomagnetic storming. A partial halo CME, possibly triggered by a filament eruption near Region 3220 on February 14 is forecast to impact Earth this week, which could result in disruptions to communication networks, power grids, and satellites. The timing and extent of the impact are still being analyzed.

  • Solar polar vortex and the X-factor returns

    Our Sun went viral this week with a stunning polar vortex that revealed some of its mysterious dynamics in the one final region still uncharted by solar telescopes, that is until Solar Orbiter begins to climb to higher latitudes later in its mission.

  • Multiple M-class flares and CMEs observed

    Our sun displayed high levels of activity in 24 hours to 12:30 UTC on February 9, including multiple low-level M-class solar flares and coronal mass ejections (CMEs) observed on the southeast and southwest limbs.

  • Double-peaked M6.3 solar flare erupts from AR 3213

    Active Region 3213 rapidly emerged on the visible disk on February 6 as just a few sunspots but has since grown into a mature, magnetically-complex sunspot group, producing several M-class flares, including a double-peaked flare that began at 22:46 and peaked at 23:07 as M6.3. The first peak was registered as M3.8 at 22:58 UTC.

  • A week of intense solar activity: 2 X- and 25 M-class flares, with 2 Earth-directed CMEs

    The period of January 9 to 15, 2023, was marked by intense solar activity, with numerous M and X-class flares being observed. The largest event of the period was an X1.9 flare on January 9, followed by an X1.0 on January 10. There were a total of 2 X-flares and 25 M-flares during the period but only two Earth-directed CMEs were observed from this flurry of activity.