Solar wind
speed: 423.8 km/sec
density: 3.20 protons/cm3
Updated: Today at 0220 UT

X-ray Solar Flares
6-hr max: C1 1412 UT Feb02
24-hr: C5 2248 UT Feb01
Updated: Today at: 1425 UT

THE SOLAR FLYBY OF COMET 96P: Some comets like it hot--especially comet 96P/Machholz. The 6-km-wide dirty snowball just flew past the sun deep inside the orbit of Mercury and survived. Play this movie from the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) to see the entire flyby. Researchers working with the SOHO data say they may have a surprise to share in the days ahead. https://www.spaceweather.com/images2023/29jan23/lasco_comet_anim6.gif

Solar wind
speed: 368.7 km/sec
density: 9.19 protons/cm3
Updated: Today at 0246 UT

X-ray Solar Flares
6-hr max: C1 0957 UT Feb03
24-hr: C3 0249 UT Feb03
Updated: Today at: 1450 UT

FARSIDE SUNSPOTS: Two large sunspot groups are transiting the farside of the sun. We know because NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory is detecting their helioseismic echoes. The sun's rotation will turn them toward Earth about a week from now. https://www.spaceweather.com/images2023/03feb23/farside.jpg

Solar wind
speed: 344.4 km/sec
density: 9.41 protons/cm3
Updated: Today at 0706 UT

X-ray Solar Flares
6-hr max: C1 1739 UT Feb05
24-hr: C6 0326 UT Feb05
Updated: Today at: 1910 UT

MOSTLY QUIET: Every sunspot on the Earthside of the sun is stable or in decay. As a result, solar activity is low. NOAA forecasters say there is a 5% chance of M-class solar flares and no more than a 1% chance of X-flares on Feb. 5th.

Solar wind
speed: 432.2 km/sec
density: 4.78 protons/cm3
Updated: Today at 0307 UT

X-ray Solar Flares
6-hr max: C7 1212 UT Feb06
24-hr: C7 1212 UT Feb06
Updated: Today at: 1510 UT

Emerging Sunspot Poses Threat of Geoeffective Flares

A sunspot has emerged over the sun's northeastern limb, which is thought to be the same one that caused a massive plasma eruption on the far side of the sun over the weekend. This sunspot is facing Earth, increasing the likelihood of geoeffective flares in the near future.

https://www.spaceweather.com/images2023/06feb23/newspot_crop.jpg

Solar wind
speed: 501.4 km/sec
density: 5.17 protons/cm3
Updated: Today at 0157 UT

X-ray Solar Flares
6-hr max: M1 1353 UT Feb07
24-hr: M1 1353 UT Feb07
Updated: Today at: 1400 UT

SUNSPOT GENESIS: Since yesterday, the sunspot has doubled. This 24-hour movie from NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory shows the profusion of new dark cores:

https://www.spaceweather.com/images2023/07feb23/genesis_strip_opt.gif

One of the new sunspots (AR3213) has an unstable 'beta-gamma' magnetic field that harbors energy for M-class solar flares. It is almost directly facing Earth.

GEOMAGNETIC STORM WATCH: Minor G1-class geomagnetic storms are possible today, Feb. 7th, as Earth enters a high-speed stream of solar wind. Arctic sky watchers should be alert for auroras mixed with almost full moonlight.