CHANCE OF MINOR STORMS TODAY: NOAA forecasters say there is a chance of minor G1-class geomagnetic storms on Nov. 22nd when a CME might sideswipe Earth's magnetic field. The faint CME was hurled into space on Nov. 19th by an erupting filament of magnetism in the sun's northern hemisphere. A glancing blow could spark bright auroras around the Arctic Circle.

ALL QUIET: There are four sunspot groups on the sun today. All of them have simple magnetic fields disinclined to explode. NOAA forecasters say there is a slight 10% chance of M-class solar flares and no more than a 1% chance of X-flares on Nov. 24th.

POSSIBLE CME IMPACT: A shock wave in the solar wind hit Earth's magnetic field today, Nov. 25th, at approximately 0230 UT. It might have been the belated arrival of a CME that left the sun on Nov. 19th, hurled in our direction by an erupting filament of magnetism. So far the weak impact has not caused a geomagnetic storm.

Solar wind
speed: 389.8 km/sec
density: 2.16 protons/cm3
more data: ACE, DSCOVR
Updated: Today at 1246 UT

X-ray Solar Flares
6-hr max: B7 0822 UT Dec06
24-hr: C2 1701 UT Dec05
explanation | more data
Updated: Today at: 1250 UT

SOLAR WIND, INCOMING: A high speed stream of solar wind is approaching Earth. ETA: Dec. 8th or 9th. The gaseous material is flowing from a canyon-shaped hole in the sun's atmosphere. Minor G1-class geomagnetic storms are possible when the solar wind arrives.

Solar wind
speed: 544.0 km/sec
density: 11.08 protons/cm3
more data: ACE, DSCOVR
Updated: Today at 0235 UT

X-ray Solar Flares
6-hr max: B7 1314 UT Dec08
24-hr: C2 1904 UT Dec07
explanation | more data
Updated: Today at: 1440 UT

GEOMAGNETIC STORM WATCH: Minor G1-class geomagnetic storms are possible today, Dec. 8th, when a high-speed stream of solar wind is expected to hit Earth's magnetic field. The gaseous material is flowing from a canyon-shaped hole in the sun's atmosphere. High-latitude sky watchers should be alert for auroras mixed with the glare from a waning full Moon.

Solar wind
speed: 527.2 km/sec
density: 9.74 protons/cm3
more data: ACE, DSCOVR
Updated: Today at 0406 UT

X-ray Solar Flares
6-hr max: C6 1413 UT Dec09
24-hr: C6 1413 UT Dec09
explanation | more data
Updated: Today at: 1610 UT

ORION IS COMING IN HOT: NASA's Orion spacecraft is hurtling toward Earth for a nail-biting grand finale to its maiden 25-day space voyage. On Sunday, Dec. 11th, Orion will skip across the top of the atmosphere like a pebble on the surface of a pond, bleeding away some of its kinetic energy before it plunges toward the Pacific Ocean like a 5,000 degree Fahrenheit meteor. Will Orion's experimental heat shield work? Tune into NASA TV on Dec. 11th for live coverage.

https://www.nasa.gov/nasalive

Solar wind
speed: 416.2 km/sec
density: 3.67 protons/cm3
more data: ACE, DSCOVR
Updated: Today at 0515 UT

X-ray Solar Flares
6-hr max: C1 1211 UT Dec13
24-hr: C1 0904 UT Dec13
explanation | more data
Updated: Today at: 1720 UT

GEMINID METEOR SHOWER: Earth is enterng a stream of debris from "rock comet" 3200 Phaethon, source of the annual Geminid meteor shower. Forecasters expect the shower to peak tonight, Dec. 13/14, and/or tomorrow, Dec. 14/15, with ~30 meteors per hour visible in bright moonlight. Fun fact: The brightest Geminids are almost always green. Observing tips and a sky map are available from the International Meteor Organization.https://www.imo.net/viewing-the-geminid-meteor-shower-in-2022/

Solar wind
speed: 327.2 km/sec
density: 5.59 protons/cm3
more data: ACE, DSCOVR
Updated: Today at 0650 UT

X-ray Solar Flares
6-hr max: M6 1442 UT Dec14
24-hr: M6 1442 UT Dec14
explanation | more data
Updated: Today at: 1855 UT

INTENSIFYING SOLAR FLARE ACTIVITY: New sunspot AR3165 is crackling with M-class solar flares. The strongest so far, an M6-class explosion (Dec. 14 @ 1442 UT) caused a shortwave radio blackout over the Atlantic Ocean. If current trends continue, the sunspot could produce an X-flare by the end of the day. https://sdowww.lmsal.com/sdomedia/ssw/media/ssw/ssw_client/data/ssw_service_221214_070102_29028/www/20221214_142842_20221214_151201.gif

Solar wind
speed: 357.3 km/sec
density: 2.45 protons/cm3
more data: ACE, DSCOVR
Updated: Today at 0447 UT

X-ray Solar Flares
6-hr max: M1 1644 UT Dec15
24-hr: M4 2206 UT Dec14
explanation | more data
Updated: Today at: 1650 UT

CHANCE OF FLARES TODAY: Don't be surprised if there is a solar flare today. NOAA forecasters say there is a 75% chance of M-flares and a 15% chance of X-flares on Dec. 15th. With 11 numbered sunspot groups crossing the face of the sun, odds are good that any eruption will be geoeffective.