Solar and Aurora Activity Chat

[Polar Maritime]

RETURN OF THE SUNSPOT: Sunspot AR1429, the source of many

and geomagnetic storms earlier this month, is about to re-appear following a two-week trip around the backside of the sun. Magnetic loops towering over the sun's NE limb herald the sunspot's approach:

Earlier today, NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory photographed plumes of plasma rising and falling over the limb: movie. Moreover, a pair of solar flares (C5- and C7-class) in the sunspot's towering magnetic canopy caused waves of ionization to ripple through the high atmosphere over Europe. These events suggest the region is still active. Stay tuned. Solar flare alerts: text, phone

[Polar Maritime]

WHO'S AFRAID OF AN OLD SUNSPOT? Sunspot AR1429, the source of many strong flares and geomagnetic storms earlier this month, has returned, but it's no longer the behemoth it once was. After a two week transit around the backside of the sun, AR1429 has substantially decayed. All that's left is a few small dark cores scattered among some bright magnetic froth:

Even the corpse of AR1429 might still be potent, however. Just yesterday it produced a flurry of five C-class flares and sent waves of ionization rippling through the high atmosphere over Europe. Furthermore, NOAA forecasters estimate a 35% chance of M-class flares during the next 24 hours.

Some activity from this diminished active region is certainly possible, but it is unlikely to be anything like the

of early March. Stay tuned for updates. Solar flare alerts: text, phone.

NORTHERN LIGHTS: Spring is aurora season, and the Arctic Circle is alight with green. First-time aurora photographer Alex Keen had no trouble finding a scene to shoot last night in Inari, Finland.

"This was the very first time that I have ever witnessed the Aurora Borealis and to say that I was captured by its magnificence and beauty would be the understatement of the Century," says Alex. "My Dad, Andy Keen, has been 'hunting' and photographing the 'lights' for many years and, up to now, I have only experienced them through his images and the countless stories that he has relayed to me regarding his adventures here in Northern Lapland. To have actually seen and 'felt' them first- hand was completely different and I can now fully understand and relate to his passion for what is quite rightly described by many as one of Mother Nature's most spectacular natural phenomena." Aurora alerts: text, phone.

more images: from Frank Olsen of Bø i Vesterålen, Norway; from Fredrik Broms of Kvaløya, Norway; from Ole C. Salomonsen of Grøtfjord, Tromsø; from Dirk Obudzinski of Circle, Alaska; from Thilo Bubek of near Tromsø / Norway; from Helge Mortensen of Kvaløya, Norway; from Bob Franklin of Door County Wisconsin; from Jónína Óskarsdóttir of Faskrudsfjordur, Iceland; from LeRoy Zimmerman of Ester, AK

[yamkin]

Current Geo-Magnetic Storm Level ??

Low: Dst > -20 nT

Medium: -20 nT > Dst > -50 nT

High: -50 nT > Dst > -100 nT

Extreme: Dst < -100 nT

I know NASA/NOAA are expecting solar activity to increase during the first two weeks of April. ACE has Geo-Magnetic Storm Level at Extreme.

I am awaiting clarification on this and will update accordingly.

Edited March 31, 2012 by yamkin

[pottyprof]

Nothing showing here... >> http://www.solarham.com/

There are a load of charts that are missing data at the moment..

[yamkin]

Nothing showing here... >> http://www.solarham.com/

There are a load of charts that are missing data at the moment..

Solarham is looking into this.

[yamkin]

Magnetic Anomalies: New Type of Solar Wind Interaction With Airless Bodies in Our Solar System

Spatial variation of the energetic neutral hydrogen flux over the magnetic anomaly close to the Gerasimovic crater. (a) High energy hydrogen flux with energy indicates a ~50% flux reduction inside the magnetic anomaly compared to the surrounding area. (http://cdn.nwstatic.co.uk/forum/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/cool.png Hydrogen flux with lower energy of 30-100 eV fills the magnetic anomaly. © The albedo (reflectivity) map of the Moon with the spacecraft trajectories (white lines). (Credit: Image courtesy of Europlanet Media Centre) Observational evidence for these findings is being presented by Drs. Yoshifumi Futaana and Martin Wieser at the European Planetary Science Congress in Rome.

To read more: http://www.sciencetechmag.com/magnetic-anomalies-new-type-of-solar-wind-interaction-with-airless-bodies-in-our-solar-system.html

[karyo]

What does this mean??

Anyway, solar activity remains low, solar flux:110

Karyo

[yamkin]

TORNADO OF PLASMA ON THE SUN TEN TIMES THE DIAMETER OF THE EARTH ON 31st MARCH 2012

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqmWTAx60g0&feature

[yamkin]

MORE FOOTAGE OF THE PLASMA TORNADOES ON THE SUN - MARCH 2012

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0sxZdp9jPw&feature

Edited April 1, 2012 by yamkin

[Polar Maritime]

INCOMING CME: A magnetic filament connected to sunspot AR1450 erupted on April 2nd, hurling a faint CME in the direction of Earth. A weak impact is expected sometime on April 4th. NOAA forecasters estimate a ~25% chance of polar geomagnetic storms when the cloud arrives.

[Polar Maritime]

AURORA WATCH: A CME expected to reach Earth on April 4th is overdue. The cloud might have missed or maybe it's running late. Mindful of a possible impact, NOAA forecasters estimate a 15% chance of polar geomagnetic storms on April 5th.

With the arrival of Spring, Arctic nights are growing shorter. "Soon, aurora season will be coming to an end," says Norwegian photographer Thorbjørn Riise Haagensen. "But it's not over yet." Last night Haagensen photographed this scene over Hillesøy, Norway:

"Beginning in the middle of May, the midnight sun brings sunshine all night long," he says. "Already some daylight is visible at the horizon at midnight. There is still enough darkness, though, for the last dance of the auroras."

more images: from Gilles Boutin of Ivujivik Nunavik Canada; from Frank Olsen of Blokken in Sortland, Norway; from Helge Mortensen of Kvaløya, Norway; from Ole C. Salomonsen of Sommarøy, Tromsø, Norway; from Thilo Bubek of Tromsø, Norway

[karyo]

The sun remains quiet!

Three little sunspots can be seen on the earth facing side of the sun but they are not actively flaring.

solar flux:104

http://www.spaceweather.com/

Karyo

[shuggee]

AURORA WATCH: A CME expected to reach Earth on April 4th is overdue. The cloud might have missed or maybe it's running late. Mindful of a possible impact, NOAA forecasters estimate a 15% chance of polar geomagnetic storms on April 5th.

Looks like it encountered Earth just as you finished typing that PM! Scottish magnetometer was in the amber zone 8am - 12 noon.

[karyo]

Today's update is showing even lower activity with only one sunspot (1450) and a solar flux of 101!

Can we squeeze out a spotless day?

Karyo

[yamkin]

Alert By Mild Geomagnetic Solar Storm

The sun woke up today after a week of low activity and forced the space weather researchers to launch a mild geomagnetic storm warning.

At 9:91 UTC, the center of space weather forecasting, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) indicated that a geomagnetic storm will primarily affect polar latitudes to 65 degrees.

He warned that this will cause energy fluctuations and will be visible aurorae at high latitudes of Canada and Alaska. The geomagnetic solar storm will last until 16 hours.

http://atraccion1982-prophecies.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/alert-by-mild-geomagnetic-solar-storm.html

[cooling climate]

Alert By Mild Geomagnetic Solar Storm

The sun woke up today after a week of low activity and forced the space weather researchers to launch a mild geomagnetic storm warning.

At 9:91 UTC, the center of space weather forecasting, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) indicated that a geomagnetic storm will primarily affect polar latitudes to 65 degrees.

He warned that this will cause energy fluctuations and will be visible aurorae at high latitudes of Canada and Alaska. The geomagnetic solar storm will last until 16 hours.

http://atraccion1982...olar-storm.html

Solar activity continues to be low to very low with only C- class flares taking place and a

filament eruption producing a weak CME.

[karyo]

Solar activity continues to be low to very low with only C- class flares taking place and a

filament eruption producing a weak CME.

Agreed! The sun is happily sleeping and occasionally farts a little.

Karyo

[yamkin]

EARTHBOUND CME DUE ON 8th/9th APRIL

http://www.solarham.com/cmewatch2.htm

[Polar Maritime]

THREE EXPLOSIONS: Three coronal mass ejections (CMEs) blasted away from the sun in quick succession during the late hours of April 5th: movie. The clouds were propelled by magnetic filaments erupting in various locations around the sun's northern hemisphere. NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory recorded this explosion, the most potent of the three:

The movie shows a filament connected to sunspot AR1450 rising up and snapping. In the aftermath of the eruption, an arcade of hot-glowing magnetic loops forms over the blast site as a "canyon of fire" illuminates the empty filament channel.

Remarkably, given their number, not one of the CMEs appears to be heading for our planet. This conclusion is only tentative, however, because of visual confusion among the three clouds. Stay tuned for updates.

[Polar Maritime]

INCOMING CME: NOAA forecasters estimate a 25% chance of strong geomagnetic storms around the poles on April 8-9 when a CME delivers a glancing blow to Earth's magnetic field. The cloud was propelled in our direction by a solar filament, which erupted on April 5th (movie). High-latitude sky watchers should be alert for auroras.

WEEKEND AURORAS: Last night, April 6-7, parts of the high Artic Circle were alight with auroras so bright even the full Moon couldn't overwhelm them. In the village of Ivujivik, Nunavik (Canada), many of the luminous formations reminded onlooker Gilles Boutin of flowers:

[yamkin]

Large CME, Earth Directed - 7th April 2012

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ejdbEqHmRM&feature

[yamkin]

Significant Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) Is Earth Directed - 7th April 2012 - Update

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJaNWkQZQxg&feature

[karyo]

The solar flux has dropped to 97!

Activity remains very low with one little sunshop on the earth facing side of the sun.

Karyo

[pottyprof]

Significant Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) Is Earth Directed - 7th April 2012 - Update

Is there really any need to hype up a headline on such a small CME? If it does hit us full on, the effect will be nothing special. By the time we get to the next X20 event, there will be nothing left to ramp it up to it's rightful place...

[Polar Maritime]

http://www.aurorasky.../live-camera/9/

Edited April 8, 2012 by Polar Maritime