SOLAR WATCH * Huge X8.2 Flare Sept. 10, 2017! (Updated Daily)

New AR 2820
April 24, 2021 @ 13:30 UTC

Two new regions assigned on Saturday. AR 2819 is located in the northwest quadrant and appears to be stable. Of interest, new AR 2820 formed just to the southwest of 2818 and continues to gradually expand. Depending on additional development, it could soon pose a threat for an isolated C-Flare. Image by SDO/HMI

https://imgur.com/dZrY4nR

[link to www.solarham.net (secure)]

New Fast-Growing Sunspot Turning Towards Earth - Geomagnetic Storm Warning


[link to www.youtube.com (secure)]

The CME has arrived at Earth. K=6 is expected (G2 Storm)....

Space Weather Message Code: WARK06
Serial Number: 442
Issue Time: 2021 Apr 25 0116 UTC

WARNING: Geomagnetic K-Index of 6 expected
Valid From: 2021 Apr 25 0115 UTC
Valid To: 2021 Apr 25 0900 UTC
Warning Condition: Onset
NOAA Scale: G2 - Moderate

NOAA Space Weather Scale descriptions can be found at
www.swpc.noaa.gov/noaa-scales-explanation

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.

-------------------------------------------------------------​-------------------

Space Weather Message Code: ALTK05
Serial Number: 1328
Issue Time: 2021 Apr 25 0059 UTC

ALERT: Geomagnetic K-index of 5
Threshold Reached: 2021 Apr 25 0059 UTC
Synoptic Period: 0000-0300 UTC

Active Warning: Yes
NOAA Scale: G1 - Minor

Solar wind plot:

[link to www.swpc.noaa.gov (secure)]

Our shrinking friend AR2816 has managed to produce a C 2.6 flare. This is same region responsible for the M1 and the C3/CME which is now passing Earth.

GONG H-alpha pic:

[link to halpha.nso.edu]

SolarDemon movie:
[link to wwwbis.sidc.be (secure)]

Joint USAF/NOAA Solar Region Summary
SRS Number 115 Issued at 0030Z on 25 Apr 2021
Report compiled from data received at SWO on 24 Apr
I. Regions with Sunspots. Locations Valid at 24/2400Z
Nmbr Location Lo Area Z LL NN Mag Type
2816 S24W44 262 0030 Cro 13 07 Beta
2818 S16E12 206 0040 Hsx 01 01 Alpha
2819 N24W27 245 0010 Bxo 04 03 Beta
2820 S22E08 210 0070 Dai 05 11 Beta

GOES X-ray flux:
[link to www.swpc.noaa.gov (secure)]

Last Edited by Helios Maximus on 04/24/2021 10:01 PM

https://imgur.com/c6CwOra

[link to www.solarham.net (secure)]

https://imgur.com/ZFenVfG

[link to earth.nullschool.net (secure)]

Possibly another small CME from 2816. Too soon to tell if there's an Earth-directed component.

STEREO Ahead Cor2 movie:

[link to stereo-ssc.nascom.nasa.gov (secure)]

Nearly nonexistent sunspot AR2816 has somehow managed another C-flare.

GONG pic shows AR2820 flaring at the same time.

[link to halpha.nso.edu]

SolarDemon movie:

[link to wwwbis.sidc.be (secure)]

As I expected NOAA named the spot emerging to the right of 2820 new AR2821.

Joint USAF/NOAA Solar Region Summary
SRS Number 116 Issued at 0030Z on 26 Apr 2021
Report compiled from data received at SWO on 25 Apr
I. Regions with Sunspots. Locations Valid at 25/2400Z
Nmbr Location Lo Area Z LL NN Mag Type
2816 S22W65 270 0010 Axx 01 01 Alpha
2818 S16W01 205 0040 Hsx 01 01 Alpha
2820 S22W06 211 0080 Dso 07 12 Beta
2821 S22W16 221 0030 Cro 04 03 Beta

INCREASING CME ACTIVITY: During the past 24 hours, the sun has produced at least two coronal mass ejections. One of them, hurled into space by an erupting magnetic filament, could sideswipe Earth on April 30th. Stay tuned for updates.

https://imgur.com/iXKjMDU

[link to www.spaceweather.com (secure)]

'FIRE FOUNTAIN' ERUPTION: You don't need a sunspot to make a solar storm. The sun proved it on April 25th when a spotless patch of the sun's southern hemisphere erupted. A dark filament of magnetism flew into space, lifting a semi-circular 'fire fountain' behind it. NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory recorded the event:

https://imgur.com/hGhsomw

The erupting filament tore through the sun's atmosphere, hurling a cloud of plasma into space. The resulting CME will miss Earth ... mostly. NOAA forecasters say there's a slight chance of a glancing blow on April 30th.

[link to www.spaceweather.com (secure)]

I've never seen so many spots in a small separation and so few flares....

Aahhh, the mysteries of of the Sun.

Latest HMI Imagery:

[link to jsoc.stanford.edu]

X-Ray Flux:

[link to www.swpc.noaa.gov (secure)]

CME MINI-IMPACTS POSSIBLE THIS WEEK: The sun produced a flurry of CMEs on April 25th and 26th. None of them was Earth-directed, but one or two *might* deliver glancing blows to Earth's magnetic field later this week. The most likely date of impact would be April 30th.

[link to www.spaceweather.com (secure)]

Filament Eruption and CME - Partial Blackout & Missing Data on SOHO/LASCO and SDO Solar Spacecrafts

A Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) was observed off the east limb in SOHO/Lasco C2 imagery on April 29th. This was the result of a filament eruption northeast of the sun. The CME is unlikely to be geoeffective based on its location, however more analysis will be conducted as imagery becomes available.

Watch Artifacts and Other Imaging Anomalies Taken by NASA’s Solar Imagers
A partial blackout was detected in both SOHO & SDO solar spacecrafts. The results were a few hours of missing data from the SOHO/LASCO C2 & C3 instruments on April 29th.


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SOLAR WIND, INCOMING: Minor G1-class geomagnetic storms are possible on May 2nd when a stream of solar wind is expected to hit Earth's magnetic field. The gaseous material is flowing faster than 500 km/s from an equatorial hole in the sun's atmosphere.

[link to www.spaceweather.com (secure)]

https://imgur.com/CxhQWae

Far Side Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) - Geomagnetic Storm Watch


[link to www.youtube.com (secure)]

SOMETHING IS COMING: A sunspot may be in the offing. Images from NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory show a spray of hot plasma towering over the sun's southeastern limb:

https://imgur.com/W6sgyez

This is probably the magnetic canopy of an approaching sunspot group. It formed days ago on the far side of the sun; now, solar rotation is turning it to face Earth. Astronomers with safely-filtered telescopes are encouraged to monitor developments as the active region emerges.

[link to www.spaceweather.com (secure)]

Old AR2817 has returned and it still looks big. We may see some solar fireworks in the next week or 2.

HMI Latest Intensitygram:

[link to jsoc.stanford.edu]

I'll try to check back later for updates.

HEY! SIMPLE AN U SOLAR-TARDZ..THE SHOE MAN RES. IS PART OF THE COAST TO COAST SHOW ON SUNDAY NIGHT! YOU'RE WELCOME. UH

GEORGE KNAPP SHOULD BE THE HOST!

NEW ACTIVE SUNSPOT: A new sunspot is emerging over the sun's northeastern limb, and it's a big one. NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) took this picture on May 7th:

https://imgur.com/hhmOBvQ

The sunspot's primary core is twice as wide as Earth, and it is accompanied by two Moon-sized companion spots--dimensions which make it an easy target for amateur solar telescopes.

Provisionally numbered AR2822, the sunspot likely heralds an increase in solar activity. In recent days it has hurled multiple CMEs into space. Extreme UV telescopes onboard the Solar Dynamics Observatory recorded this blast on May 5th while AR2822 was still on the farside of the sun:

https://imgur.com/M1FzFgA

Note the plume of plasma--some of which flies into space, and some which falls back to the sun--as well as a shadowy shock wave rippling away from the blast site. This is a solar tsunami.

Future eruptions could be aimed at Earth as the sunspot turns toward us in the days ahead. Stay tuned!

[link to www.spaceweather.com (secure)]