~SPACE WEATHER UPDATE~ CHANCE OF MAGNETIC STORMS~CME TO ARRIVE DECEMBER 29-30TH
CHANCE OF MAGNETIC STORMS: NOAA forecasters estimate a 20% to 40% chance of polar geomagnetic storms on Dec. 28-29 in response to the arrival of one or more CMEs. High-latitude sky watchers should be alert for auroras. Aurora alerts: text, voice.
ON MARS, TOO: Sunspot 1387 erupted on Christmas day, hurling a coronal mass ejection (CME) directly toward Mars. According to analysts at the Goddard Space Weather Lab, impact will occur on Dec. 30th at 1800 UT (+/- 7 hr). Click to view an animated forecast track:
Unlike Earth, Mars does not have a global magnetic field. Instead, the Red Planet has "magnetic umbrellas." These are fossil remnants of an ancient global magnetic field that decayed billions of years ago. When a CME hits Mars, the action happens in the umbrellas' canopies. Because the umbrellas are scattered around Mars, martian auroras can theoretically occur even near the equator.
Different world, different space weather.
Solar wind
speed: 282.7 km/sec
density: 4.3 protons/cm3
explanation | more data
Updated: Today at 1726 UT
X-ray Solar Flares
6-hr max: C7 1425 UT Dec28
24-hr: C7 1425 UT Dec28
explanation | more data
Updated: Today at: 1700 UT
Daily Sun: 28 Dec 11
Sunspots 1386 and 1387 have "beta-gamma" magnetic fields that harbor energy for M-class solar flares. Credit: SDO/HMI
Sunspot number: 126
What is the sunspot number?
Updated 27 Dec 2011
Spotless Days
Current Stretch: 0 days
2011 total: 2 days (<1%)
2010 total: 51 days (14%)
2009 total: 260 days (71%)
Since 2004: 821 days
Typical Solar Min: 486 days
Updated 27 Dec 2011
The Radio Sun
10.7 cm flux: 140 sfu
explanation | more data
Updated 27 Dec 2011
Current Auroral Oval:
Switch to: Europe, USA, New Zealand, Antarctica
Credit: NOAA/POES
Planetary K-index
Now: Kp= 1 quiet
24-hr max: Kp= 1 quiet
explanation | more data
Interplanetary Mag. Field
Btotal: 11.5 nT
Bz: 0.3 nT north
explanation | more data
Updated: Today at 1727 UT
Coronal Holes: 28 Dec 11
A solar wind stream flowing from this coronal hole could reach Earth between Dec. 29th and 30th. Credit: SDO/AIA.
