~ SPACE WEATHER UPDATE~ 12~7~11 the sun's X-ray output has flatlined ~
TOTAL LUNAR ECLIPSE: Mark your calendar. On Saturday, Dec. 10th, the full Moon will glide through the coppery shadow of Earth, producing a total lunar eclipse visible from the Pacific side of our planet. For residents of the western USA and Canada, the event unfolds at dawn and will be magnified to super-sized proportions by the Moon illusion. [Science@NASA: full story, video]
QUIET SUN: The face of the sun is peppered with spots, but none of them is actively producing flares. Since yesterday, the sun's X-ray output has flatlined:
Despite the quiet, there is potential for Earth-directed eruptions. Sunspots 1362 and 1363 have "beta-gamma" magnetic fields that harbor energy for M-class solar flares. NOAA forecasters estimate a 20% chance of M-flares during the next 24 hours. Solar flare alerts: text, phone.
THE MOON AND JUPITER: Last night's close encounter between Jupiter and the Moon was a knockout. Literally:
"This is what happened when a friend and I went out to watch the conjunction," says photographer Göran Strand of Frösön, Sweden. "It was a clear and cold night and, fortunately, we found a very nice spot to hit the ground south of Östersund."
In case you missed the conjunction, you won't have to wait long for it to happen again. The Moon will spend the next few weeks circling the sky, returning for another meet-up with Jupiter on Jan. 2, 2012. The New Year begins with a knock-out sky show. SpaceWeather Phone (text, voice) subscribers will receive a reminder when the time comes.
 |
Solar wind
speed: 307.0 km/sec
density: 4.6 protons/cm3
explanation | more data
Updated: Today at 1955 UT
|
X-ray Solar Flares
6-hr max: C1 1539 UT Dec07
24-hr: C1 0605 UT Dec07
explanation | more data
Updated: Today at: 2000 UT
|
|
Daily Sun: 07 Dec 11
|
|
Sunspots 1362 and 1363 pose a 20% chance of M-class solar flares today. Credit: SDO/HMI
