AURORA WATCH: NOAA forecasters estimate a 15% chance of minor geomagnetic storms on Feb. 3rd in response to the expected arrrival of a solar wind stream. High-latitude sky watchers should be alert for auroras.
FARSIDE ERUPTION: Sunspot AR1402, the source of last week's X-flare and many beautiful auroras, is on the farside of the sun now. Although we can't see it, the active region is still erupting. During the late hours of Jan. 31st, the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory observed this coronal mass ejection flying over the sun's western limb:
The cloud is heading in the direction of NASA's STEREO-Ahead spacecraft, which witnessed the explosion from directly above the sunspot. An initial inspection of the data suggests that no planets are in the line of fire.
If AR1402 hangs together for another two weeks, it will complete its transit of the farside and re-emerge on the Earthside of the sun. A return is unlikely, however, because sunspots rarely last for more than one solar rotation.
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Solar wind
speed: 383.7 km/sec
density: 9.2 protons/cm3
explanation | more data
Updated: Today at 1456 UT
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X-ray Solar Flares
6-hr max: B6 0916 UT Feb01
24-hr: C1 0441 UT Feb01
explanation | more data
Updated: Today at: 1500 UT
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Daily Sun: 01 Feb 12
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All of the sunspots on the Earthside of the sun are quiet. Credit: SDO/HMI
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Sunspot number: 71
What is the sunspot number?
Updated 31 Jan 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 31 Jan 2012
The Radio Sun
10.7 cm flux: 117 sfu
explanation | more data
Updated 31 Jan 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= 2 quiet
24-hr max: Kp= 2 quiet
explanation | more data
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Interplanetary Mag. Field
Btotal: 6.3 nT
Bz: 1.0 nT north
explanation | more data
Updated: Today at 1456 UT
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Coronal Holes: 30 Jan 12
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There are no big coronal holes on the Earthside of the sun. Credit: SDO/AIA.
