ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS A ... CME? A CME impact expected on Dec. 24th did not materialize. NOAA forecasters say the CME may still be coming, with a delayed impact on Christmas Day. The glancing blow could spark minor G1-class geomagnetic storms and auroras around the Arctic Circle

Planetary K-index
Now: Kp= 2 quiet
24-hr max: Kp= 3 quiet
explanation | more data

Interplanetary Mag. Field
Btotal: 4.4 nT
Bz: -0.3 nT south
more data: ACE, DSCOVR
Updated: Today at 2340 UT

Solar wind
speed: 345.8 km/sec
density: 3.1 protons/cm3
Updated: Today at 1935 UT

X-ray Solar Flares
6-hr max: C1 1859 UT Dec26
24-hr: C2 0036 UT Dec26
Updated: Today at: 1940 UT

Daily Sun: 26 Dec 21

Sunspot AR2916 has a 'delta-class' magnetic field that harbors energy for X-class solar flares. Credit: SDO/HMI

Planetary K-index
Now: Kp= 0 quiet
24-hr max: Kp= 1 quiet

Interplanetary Mag. Field
Btotal: 3.5 nT
Bz: -1.3 nT south

Updated: Today at 1935 UT

BIG SUNSPOT TURNS TOWARD EARTH: This weekend, sunspot AR2916 has quadruped in size, turning into one of the largest spots of Solar Cycle 25. This 48-hour movie from NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory shows the active region growing and turning toward Earth

Details:

Sunspot group AR2916 has been growing since its emergence.

Photographer's website:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/michael_teoh

THE GRINCH STOLE MY GEOMAGNETIC STORM: Arctic sky watchers hoping for a geomagnetic storm were disappointed on Christmas when a CME did *not* hit Earth's magnetic field. The incoming storm cloud either missed or it is moving much more slowly than NOAA forecast models predicted. Either way, a storm is now unlikely this weekend.

Solar wind
speed: 407.7 km/sec
density: 15.3 protons/cm3
Updated: Today at 1430 UT

X-ray Solar Flares
6-hr max: C1 0953 UT Dec27
24-hr: C3 2012 UT Dec26
Updated: Today at: 1435 UT

Daily Sun: 27 Dec 21

Although sunspot AR2916 continues to grow, its magnetic field has simplified, decreasing the chance of flares from this behemoth active region. Credit: SDO/HMI

Planetary K-index
Now: Kp= 2 quiet
24-hr max: Kp= 2 quiet

Interplanetary Mag. Field
Btotal: 13.6 nT
Bz: 6.4 nT north
Updated: Today at 1429 UT