GEOMAGNETIC UNREST: A high-speed solar wind stream is buffeting Earth's magnetic field, causing minor geomagnetic storms and auroras around the poles. Zoltan Kenwell photographed this display on August 16th from Edmonton, Alberta:
"[Because of clouds and fog], this was kind of a mushy and subdued aurora event," says Kenwell. "It was still a treat to view though."
NOAA forecasters estimate a 50% chance of geomagnetic storms on August 17th as the solar wind continues to blow. High-latitude sky watchers should remain alert for auroras. Aurora alerts: text, voice.
BRIGHT NOVA: Nova Delphini, which exploded just three days ago in the northern constellation Delphinus, has continued to brighten. With a magnitude of +4.5, it is now easily visible in binoculars even from urban areas if you know where to look. This cactus in Tucson, Arizona, points the way:
"This is my obligatory southern-Arizona cactus photo of the nova in Delphinus," says photographer Scott Tucker. "It was actually visible to the naked eye at the time."
Novas occur in binary star systems when one star dumps matter onto a companion white dwarf. As the matter piles up on the surface of the white dwarf it heats up, fuses, and explodes, producing a flash of light 50,000 to 100,000 times brighter than the sun. Despite their brightness, most novas are invisible to the unaided eye because they are so far away. Nova Delphini is a rare exception.
Backyard astronomers who wish to see this nova in greater detail should point their GOTO telescopes to coordinates 20:23:30.7, +20:46:06 (J2000). More information and updates are available from Sky and Telescope.
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Solar wind
speed: 604.6 km/sec
density: 0.9 protons/cm3
explanation | more data
Updated: Today at 1956 UT
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X-ray Solar Flares
6-hr max: M3 1824 UT Aug17
24-hr: M3 1824 UT Aug17
explanation | more data
Updated: Today at: 2000 UT
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Daily Sun: 17 Aug 13
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Sunspots AR1817 and AR1818 have 'beta-gamma-delta' magnetic fields that harbor energy for strong flares. Credit: SDO/HMI
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Sunspot number: 104
What is the sunspot number?
Updated 17 Aug 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 17 Aug 2013
The Radio Sun
10.7 cm flux: 120 sfu
explanation | more data
Updated 17 Aug 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= 2 quiet
24-hr max: Kp= 3 quiet
explanation | more data
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Interplanetary Mag. Field
Btotal: 2.6 nT
Bz: 1.8 nT south
explanation | more data
Updated: Today at 1956 UT
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Coronal Holes: 17 Aug 13
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Earth is inside a stream of solar wind flowing from this coronal hole. Credit: SDO/AIA.
