SOLAR STORM HEATS UP EARTH'S ATMOSPHERE: A flurry of solar activity in early March dumped enough heat in Earth's upper atmosphere to power every residence in New York City for two years. The heat has since dissipated, but there's more to come as the solar cycle intensifies. [full story] [video]
INCREDIBLE SUNSPOT AR1429: Big sunspot AR1429, the source of so many strong flares and geomagnetic storms earler this month, is still erupting. The active region produced a significant coronal mass ejection on March 24th at 00:39 UT. Because of the sunspot's location on the far side of the sun, this particular CME will not hit Earth. An animated forecast track prepared by analysts at the Goddard Space Weather Lab shows the trajectory of the expanding cloud:
The leading edge of the CME is espected to arrive at the STEREO-B spacecraft on March 25th at 13:08 UT (+/- 7 hours). None of the inner panets will be affected.
Since March began, sunspot AR1429 has propelled CMEs into every corner of the solar system, stirring up stormy space weather around every planet and spacecraft. If the sunspot remains active for another week or so, it will turn back toward Earth for a new round of geoeffective eruptions. Stay tuned.
Solar wind
speed: 475.8 km/sec
density: 1.5 protons/cm3
explanation | more data
Updated: Today at 1555 UT
X-ray Solar Flares
6-hr max: C2 1001 UT Mar24
24-hr: C3 0946 UT Mar24
explanation | more data
Updated: Today at: 1600 UT
Daily Sun: 24 Mar 12
Sunspot 1445 is crackling with C-class solar flares. Credit: SDO/HMI
Sunspot number: 74
What is the sunspot number?
Updated 22 Mar 2012
Spotless Days
Current Stretch: 0 days
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
Updated 22 Mar 2012
The Radio Sun
10.7 cm flux: 102 sfu
explanation | more data
Updated 22 Mar 2012
Current Auroral Oval:
Switch to: Europe, USA, New Zealand, Antarctica
Credit: NOAA/POES
Planetary K-index
Now: Kp= 2 quiet
24-hr max: Kp= 4 unsettled
explanation | more data
Interplanetary Mag. Field
Btotal: 4.8 nT
Bz: 1 nT south
explanation | more data
Updated: Today at 1556 UT
Coronal Holes: 23 Mar 12
There are no large coronal holes on the Earthside of the sun. Credit: SDO/AIA.
