POLAR MAGNETIC STORMS: Auroras are dancing around the poles in response to a high-speed solar wind stream buffeting Earth's magnetic field. Stefan Christmann sends this picture from icy Atka Bay in Antarctica:
"On July 1st we enjoyed a beautiful display of aurora australis over the German Antarctic Research Station Neumayer III" says Christmann. "The air temperature was -30°C with 10 knots of wind. Even so, this was one of the most beautiful expierences so far."
NOAA forecasters estimate a 35% chance of continued geomagnetic activity as the solar wind continues to blow. Aurora alerts: text, voice.
MASSIVE PROMINENCE: Amateur astronomers around the world are monitoring a massive, active prominence dancing along the sun's southeastern limb. Andre van der Hoeven sends this picture from HI-Ambacht, the Netherlands:
Prominences are filaments of magnetism filled with glowing-hot plasma. This beautiful "prom" rises more than 40,000 km above the stellar surface and stretches more than 20 Earth-diameters from end to end. Such structures are naturally unstable, and this one could collapse at any time. Keep and eye on the latest images for developments.
Solar wind
speed: 642.8 km/sec
density: 0.5 protons/cm3
explanation | more data
Updated: Today at 1446 UT
X-ray Solar Flares
6-hr max: M5 1052 UT Jul02
24-hr: M5 1052 UT Jul02
explanation | more data
Updated: Today at: 1400 UT
Daily Sun: 02 Jul 12
Sunspots 1513 and 1515 have 'beta-gamma' magnetic fields that harbor energy for M-class solar flares. Credit: SDO/HMI
Sunspot number: 137
What is the sunspot number?
Updated 02 Jul 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 02 Jul 2012
The Radio Sun
10.7 cm flux: 133 sfu
explanation | more data
Updated 02 Jul 2012
Current Auroral Oval:
Switch to: Europe, USA, New Zealand, Antarctica
Credit: NOAA/POES
Planetary K-index
Now: Kp= 3 quiet
24-hr max: Kp= 4 unsettled
explanation | more data
Interplanetary Mag. Field
Btotal: 4.9 nT
Bz: 2.5 nT south
explanation | more data
Updated: Today at 1446 UT
Coronal Holes: 30 Jun 12
Solar wind flowing from this coronal hole should reach Earth on July 2-3. Credit: SDO/AIA.
