HALLOWEEN AURORAS? As October comes to an end, a series of CMEs will sweep past Earth. The first three are expected to deliver glancing blows on Oct. 28th through Oct. 30th, possibly having little effect. A more direct hit is likely on Oct. 31st when a CME from Earth-facing sunspot AR1882 arrives. It was propelled in our direction by an M4-class flare on Oct. 28th. High-latitude sky watchers should be alert for auroras on Halloween. Aurora alerts: text, voice.
SUNSPOTS MOST LIKELY TO FLARE: The sun is dotted with spots, and three of them pose a threat for strong eruptions. Today's sunspots most-likely-to-flare are circled in this Oct. 29th image of the sun from NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory:
AR1875, AR1882 and AR1875 have 'beta-gamma-delta' magnetic fields that harbor energy for X-class solar flares. One of these spots in particular, AR1882, is almost directly facing Earth, so any eruptions it unleashes would almost surely be geoeffective. NOAA forecasters estimate a 70% chance of M-class flares and a 35% chance of X-flares on Oct. 29th. Solar flare alerts: text, voice.
Realtime Space Weather Photo Gallery
SPACE WEATHER RADIATION BALLOON: According to a recent NASA report, astronauts aren't the only ones who need to worry about solar storms. Ordinary air travelers can also be exposed to significant doses of radiation when the sun is active. On Oct. 27th, the students of Earth to Sky Calculus launched an experiment to investigate the effects of space weather on aviation. Using a suborbital helium balloon, they sent a pair of radiation sensors to the stratosphere. The launch took place from their "edge of space port" in the Sierras of central California:
The payload was equipped to measure alpha and beta particles as well as X-rays and gamma rays at altitudes as high as 120,000 feet. After a two-hour flight, the payload has parachuted back to Earth. A recovery team will gather the sensors and begin analyzing the readings as early as Oct. 28th.
Another balloon flight could be in the offing. Active sunspots AR1875 and AR1877 are approaching the sun's western limb where they will become magnetically connected to Earth. Energetic particles accelerated by flares on that side of the sun are funneled back toward our planet by spiraling magnetic fields. The young scientists say that a radiation storm in the days ahead would prompt another trip to the stratosphere. Stay tuned. Solar flare alerts: text, voice.
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Solar wind
speed: 328.2 km/sec
density: 4.3 protons/cm3
explanation | more data
Updated: Today at 1557 UT
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X-ray Solar Flares
6-hr max: C6 1007 UT Oct29
24-hr: C6 1007 UT Oct29
explanation | more data
Updated: Today at: 1600 UT
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Daily Sun: 29 Oct 13
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Sunspots AR1882 and AR1885 have delta-class magnetic fields that harbor energy for X-class solar flares. Credit: SDO/HMI
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Sunspot number: 155
What is the sunspot number?
Updated 29 Oct 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 29 Oct 2013
The Radio Sun
10.7 cm flux: 160 sfu
explanation | more data
Updated 29 Oct 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: 8.8 nT
Bz: 1.3 nT north
explanation | more data
Updated: Today at 1531 UT
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Coronal Holes: 29 Oct 13
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There are no large coronal holes on the Earthside of the sun. Credit: SDO/AIA.
