FARSIDE SUNSPOTS: NASA's STEREO-A spacecraft is monitoring two ultraviolet hotspots just behind the sun's eastern limb.

These are potentially significant sunspot groups. The regions will rotate into view this weekend.

BIG SOUTHERN SUNSPOT: Two days ago, sunspot AR2924 was barely visible. Now it is a behemoth many times larger than Earth. Eduardo Schaberger Poupeau photographed the fast-growing active region today in Rafaela, Argentina.

So far, the sunspot has not produced any major flares. However, it is developing a mixed magnetic field in which "+" and "-" polarities are in close contact. The stage is set for explosive magnetic reconnection

Solar wind
speed: 308.5 km/sec
density: 20.3 protons/cm3
more data: ACE, DSCOVR
Updated: Today at 1550 UT

X-ray Solar Flares
6-hr max: B5 0959 UT Jan08
24-hr: C2 2210 UT Jan07
explanation | more data
Updated: Today at: 1555 UT

Solar wind
speed: 367.3 km/sec
density: 48.5 protons/cm3
Updated: Today at 1855 UT

X-ray Solar Flares
6-hr max: B5 1401 UT Jan08
24-hr: C2 2210 UT Jan07
Updated: Today at: 1900 UT

Daily Sun: 08 Jan 22

Sunspot AR2924 has rapidly grown into one of the largest sunspots of young Solar Cycle 25. Any flares today will be Earth directed. Credit: SDO/HMI

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

Interplanetary Mag. Field
Btotal: 15.0 nT
Bz: -8.9 nT south
Updated: Today at 1855 UT

Coronal Holes: 08 Jan 22

Solar wind flowing from this southern coronal hole could graze Earth on Jan. 9th. Credit: SDO/AIA

🌌ARCTIC AURORA WATCH: Arctic auroras are likely on Jan. 9-10 when a minor stream of solar wind is expected to hit Earth. The gaseous material is flowing from a southern hole in the sun's atmosphere.

Solar wind
speed: 465.4 km/sec
density: 10.1 protons/cm3
Updated: Today at 1536 UT

X-ray Solar Flares
6-hr max: B3 1350 UT Jan09
24-hr: B7 0517 UT Jan09
Updated: Today at: 1540 UT

Daily Sun: 09 Jan 22

Sunspot AR2924 has rapidly grown into one of the largest sunspots of young Solar Cycle 25. Any flares today will be Earth directed. Credit: SDO/HMI

Planetary K-index
Now: Kp= 2 quiet
24-hr max: Kp= 5 storm

Interplanetary Mag. Field
Btotal: 2.3 nT
Bz: 0.8 nT north
Updated: Today at 1536 UT

Coronal Holes: 09 Jan 22

Eath is inside a stream of solar wind flowing from this southern coronal hole. Credit: SDO/AIA

CIR IMPACT SPARKS BRIGHT AURORAS: A co-rotating interaction region (CIR) hit Earth's magnetic field on Jan. 8th, igniting some of the best Arctic auroras in years. Lights over Lapland tour guide Sachrias Rundquist sends this picture from Abisko, Sweden.

SUBSIDING GEOMAGNETIC STORM: A G1-class geomagnetic storm caused by the impact of a CIR on Jan. 8th (see above) is subsiding now. The storm is over. Arctic auroras remain possible as Earth enters a moderately fast stream of solar wind flowing behind the CIR.

Solar wind
speed: 444.6 km/sec
density: 4.9 protons/cm3
Updated: Today at 1555 UT

X-ray Solar Flares
6-hr max: B4 1318 UT Jan10
24-hr: B5 1602 UT Jan09
Updated: Today at: 1600 UT

Daily Sun: 10 Jan 22

All of these sunspots have stable magnetic fields that pose little threat for strong flares. Credit: SDO/HMI

Planetary K-index
Now: Kp= 1 quiet
24-hr max: Kp= 3 quiet

Interplanetary Mag. Field
Btotal: 3.7 nT
Bz: -2.7 nT south
Updated: Today at 1555 UT

Coronal Holes: 10 Jan 22

Solar wind flowing from this emerging coronal hole should reach Earth on Jan 17-18. Credit: SDO/AIA

FARSIDE SOLAR EXPLOSION: Something just exploded on the farside of the sun. Hidden from view, the blast hurled a magnificent CME over the northeastern edge of the solar disk. The bright light at the top of this SOHO coronagraph movie is Venus, which happened to be passing by the sun at the same time:

When the CME appeared, US Air Force antennas detected strong Type II and Type IV radio bursts. These are caused by shock waves inside the CME. Frequency drifts revealed the speed of the storm cloud, approximately 575 km/s or 1.3 million mph.

The source of this blast, probably an unstable sunspot, should turn toward Earth later this week.