(ALMOST NO) CHANCE OF FLARES: Two sunspots facing Earth (AR1934 and AR1936) have 'beta-gamma' magnetic fields that harbor energy for strong flares. Both sunspots have been quiet for days, however, and they show no signs of an imminent eruption. This has prompted NOAA forecasters to place low odds on flares today: a 25% chance of M-flares and a 1% chance X-flares. Solar flare alerts: text, voice.
SOLAR WIND STREAM MISSES EARTH: A stream of solar wind expected to hit Earth's magnetic field on Dec. 26-27 has apparently missed, sailing mostly north of our planet. As a result, Earth's magnetic field is quiet and the polar auroral oval is dim. Another solar wind stream is coming, though, and it will likely reach Earth on Jan. 2-3, producing the first auroras of New Year. Arctic sky watchers could see something like this:
Nancy Dean of Sterling, Alaska, took the picture on Dec. 26th. "It was about 1:30 in the morning and -20 degrees outside when I got this photo," she says. At the time, the interplanetary magnetic (IMF) field near Earth had turned south, opening a crack in our planet's magnetosphere. Solar wind poured in and fueled the display. Aurora alerts: text, voice.
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Solar wind
speed: 311.5 km/sec
density: 1.6 protons/cm3
explanation | more data
Updated: Today at 1647 UT
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X-ray Solar Flares
6-hr max: C4 1213 UT Dec27
24-hr: C4 1213 UT Dec27
explanation | more data
Updated: Today at: 1600 UT
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Daily Sun: 27 Dec 13
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Sunspots AR1934 and AR1936 have 'beta-gamma' magnetic fields that harbor energy for M-class solar flares. Credit: SDO/HMI
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Sunspot number: 96
What is the sunspot number?
Updated 27 Dec 2013
Spotless Days
Current Stretch: 0 days
2013 total: 0 days (0%)
2012 total: 0 days (0%)
2011 total: 2 days (<1%)
2010 total: 51 days (14%)
2009 total: 260 days (71%)
Since 2004: 821 days
Typical Solar Min: 486 days
Update 27 Dec 2013
The Radio Sun
10.7 cm flux: 125 sfu
explanation | more data
Updated 27 Dec 2013
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Current Auroral Oval:
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Switch to: Europe, USA, New Zealand, Antarctica
Credit: NOAA/POES
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Planetary K-index
Now: Kp= 0 quiet
24-hr max: Kp= 0 quiet
explanation | more data
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Interplanetary Mag. Field
Btotal: 8.9 nT
Bz: 0.7 nT north
explanation | more data
Updated: Today at 1647 UT
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Coronal Holes: 27 Dec 13
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Solar wind flowing from the indicated coronal hole could reach Earth on Jan 2-3. Credit: SDO/AIA.
