SUBSIDING STORM: The geomagnetic storm of July 14th through 16th is subsiding. Solar wind conditions are trending toward quiet, and Earth's magnetic field is responding by settling down. The remarkable 36-hour event was triggered by a CME impact on July 14th around 11 am PDT (1800 UT).
When the CME first arrived on July 14th, its effect appeared weak. However, conditions in the wake of the CME soon become stormy. On July 14-16 Northern Lights appeared in the United States as far south as Oregon, California, Colorado, Missouri, Utah, Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota, Washington, Illinois, Kansas, South Dakota, Nebraska, Michigan and Arkansas. Travis Novitsky sends this picture from Grand Portage, Minnesota:
"Anticipating the CME's arrival on Saturday, I planned an Aurora Party with my girlfriend and a couple of friends," says Novitsky. "Just after midnight the sky erupted and suddenly we were surrounded by the shimmering, dancing lights. The intense activity continued through the rest of the night until the first light of dawn started to creep into the sky. Certainly one of the most amazing aurora nights I've ever witnessed in northern Minnesota!" Aurora alerts: text, voice.
Meanwhile in the southern hemisphere, the aurora australis has been sighted in New Zealand, Tasmania, and directly above the South Pole itself. Visit our aurora gallery for a complete set of images:
THE SOURCE OF THE DISPLAY: Big sunspot AR1520, the source of the X-flare that instigated this weekend's auroras, can attract observers even without exploding. During a quiet moment yesterday in France, it showed itself at sunset:
Photographer VegaStar Carpentier took the picture on July 15th overlooking an island near the Coast of Marseilles.
The behemoth sunspot has a beta-gamma-delta magnetic field that harbors energy for more X-class solar flares. The odds of a geoeffective eruption are decreasing, however, as the sunspot turns toward Earth. NOAA forecasters estimate a 40% chance of M-flares and a 15% chance of X-flares during the next 24 hours. Solar flare alerts: text, voice.
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Solar wind
speed: 428.3 km/sec
density: 0.3 protons/cm3
explanation | more data
Updated: Today at 1526 UT
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X-ray Solar Flares
6-hr max: C2 1310 UT Jul16
24-hr: C3 0458 UT Jul16
explanation | more data
Updated: Today at: 1500 UT
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Daily Sun: 16 Jul 12
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Sunspot 1520 poses a continued threat for X-class solar flares. As the sunspot turns away from Earth, however, the chances of a geoeffective eruption are decreasing. Credit: SDO/HMI
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Sunspot number: 134
What is the sunspot number?
Updated 15 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 15 Jul 2012
The Radio Sun
10.7 cm flux: 148 sfu
explanation | more data
Updated 15 Jul 2012
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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= 4 unsettled
24-hr max: Kp= 6 storm
explanation | more data
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Interplanetary Mag. Field
Btotal: 11.0 nT
Bz: 4.1 nT north
explanation | more data
Updated: Today at 1526 UT
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Coronal Holes: 14 Jul 12
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There are no large coronal holes on the Earthside of the sun. Credit: SDO/AIA.
a question please.
Dear Mother Father God.
Do you know whether it's possible that these past solar storms can affect the polarity of metal in a person, such as a metal device that's taking the place of bone? I have a friend who is experiencing "magnetism". Things are being drawn to her leg because of it. Also, do you have any idea what she can do about it? She's asked me whether it might be a good idea to have it taken out of her leg. I haven't got a clue. I know that we're going to continue to experience more flares in the future, and she's pretty concerned about this. Evidently she's expriencing some discomfort as well. Any info that you can give me to pass on to her would be extremely helpful. Thanks so very much.
Love and Blessings to you.
d'tewa