M-CLASS SOLAR FLARE:
New sunspot AR2911 unleashed an M1-class solar flare during the early hours of Dec. 17th (0051 UT). A pulse of extreme UV radiation and X-rays ionized the top of Earth's atmosphere, causing a shortwave radio blackout over the South Pacific. There are now at least three sunspots on the solar disk capable of producing flares of this magnitude.
New sunspot AR2911 unleashed an M1-class solar flare during the early hours of Dec. 17th (0051 UT). A pulse of extreme UV radiation and X-rays ionized the top of Earth's atmosphere, causing a shortwave radio blackout over the South Pacific. There are now at least three sunspots on the solar disk capable of producing flares of this magnitude.
🔥CHANCE OF FLARES TODAY: NOAA forecasters say there is a 25% chance of M-class solar flares today. The likely source, sunspot complex AR2907-09, is almost directly facing Earth, which means any explosions would be geoeffective.
DENSE SOLAR WIND: Today, Dec. 19th, Earth is entering a slow but dense zone of solar wind. Compressed magnetic fields in this region could link to Earth's own magnetic field, sparking geomagnetic activity around the poles. Arctic sky watchers should be alert for auroras.
AN EXPLOSION ON THE SUN: Yesterday, an active region emerging from the sun's southeastrn limb exploded, producing a C6-class solar flare and a beautiful loop-shaped prominence:
Debris from the explosion will miss Earth. However future eruptions might be geoeffective as the unstable blast site moves into our planet's strike zone later this week.
Debris from the explosion will miss Earth. However future eruptions might be geoeffective as the unstable blast site moves into our planet's strike zone later this week.