Jun
07
Solar Cycle 24 Kick Start: M6.6-Class and X2.2-Class Flares (Feb. 11th-16th, 2011).
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AURORA WATCH: A series of coronal mass ejections (CMEs) en route to Earth from sunspot 1158 will buffet our planet’s magnetic field during the next 24-48 hours. NOAA forecasters estimate a 45% chance of geomagnetic activity on Feb. 17th. High-latitude sky watchers should be alert for auroras. AMAZING SUNSPOT MOVIE: Less than a week ago, sunspot 1158 didn’t exist. Now it is wider than the planet Jupiter and unleashing the strongest solar flares since Dec. 2006. Witness the amazing 5-day development of this active region, courtesy of NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory:
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25 Comments
June 7th, 2011 at 2:36 pm
the sun is farting lol (;
June 7th, 2011 at 3:17 pm
ANOTHER X-FLARE–ALMOST: Fast-growing active region 1161 erupted this morning, producing an M6.6-class solar flare at 1011 UT. The almost-X category blast was one of the strongest flares in years and continued the week-long trend of high solar activity. SOHO coronagraph images show no accompanying CME, so Earth effects should be minimal.
June 7th, 2011 at 3:41 pm
CME SPARKS AURORAS: One and possibly two CMEs hit Earth during the early hours of Feb. 18th, creating a gusty solar wind environment around our planet and fueling a minor G1-class geomagnetic storm. During the storm-peak, auroras were visible over Canada despite interference from the full moon:
June 7th, 2011 at 4:13 pm
And in Arkansas:
“The U.S. Geological Survey reports a 4.0 magnitude quake was recorded in Faulkner County at 9:59 p.m. Thursday about two miles northeast of Greenbrier – about 35 miles north of Little Rock.
A 3.2 magnitude quake was recorded at 1:13 a.m. Friday about three miles northwest of Keiser in Mississippi County. Keiser is just east of Osceola and is about 45 miles northwest of Memphis, Tenn.-AP
June 7th, 2011 at 4:56 pm
IMPACT! A CME hit Earth’s magnetic field at approximately 0100 UT on Feb. 18th (8:00 pm EST on Feb. 17th). The impact was not as strong as expected considering the cloud’s probable X-class origin. Nevertheless, geomagnetic storms are possible in the hours ahead. High-latitude sky watchers should be alert for auroras.
June 7th, 2011 at 5:31 pm
Best yet! you rocc!!
June 7th, 2011 at 5:45 pm
Damm your good …..thanks
June 7th, 2011 at 6:27 pm
looks like there will be quite a show for the next couple of years.
June 7th, 2011 at 6:47 pm
Great Video…
June 7th, 2011 at 6:52 pm
So fricken awesome!!! Go Sun!!
Great music too mate
June 7th, 2011 at 7:01 pm
INCOMING CME: A coronal mass ejection (CME) propelled toward Earth by the X2-flare of Feb. 15th should arrive during the late hours of Feb. 17th–that’s today. A moderately strong geomagnetic storm is likely when it arrives. High-latitude sky watchers should be alert for auroras after nightfall.
June 7th, 2011 at 7:55 pm
Thanks for the info, also, your time and effort. V
June 7th, 2011 at 8:43 pm
Magnitude 3.6
Date-Time Thursday, February 17, 2011 at 18:46:33 UTC
Thursday, February 17, 2011 at 11:46:33 AM at epicenter
Location 44.734°N, 110.501°W
Depth 20.9 km (13.0 miles)
Region YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, WYOMING
Distances 38 km (23 miles) SSE (154°) from Gardiner, MT
48 km (30 miles) E (80°) from West Yellowstone, MT
54 km (34 miles) SW (235°) from Cooke City-Silver Gate, MT
June 7th, 2011 at 9:17 pm
AURORA WATCH: NOAA has slightly downgraded the chance of geomagnetic activity on Feb. 17th to 35%. Those are still good odds, however, so high-latitude sky watchers should be alert for auroras.
June 7th, 2011 at 9:37 pm
Great work as usual.
Thank you very much your work is appreciated.
Peace
June 7th, 2011 at 9:57 pm
i bet u bp will think that this was because of aliens
cause he is an idiot
but u skywatcher u r great
June 7th, 2011 at 10:17 pm
Great footage, thankyou
June 7th, 2011 at 10:28 pm
cheers for the vids
June 7th, 2011 at 10:29 pm
great video thanx
June 7th, 2011 at 11:13 pm
3-day Solar-Geophysical Forecast issued Feb 16 22:00 UTC
Solar Activity Forecast: Solar activity is expected to be moderate with a chance for an isolated major flare for the next three days (17-19 February). Region 1158 is expected to produce more M-class flares and still has the potential for producing an M5 or greater x-ray event. There is a chance for isolated M-class activity from Region 1161.
June 7th, 2011 at 11:27 pm
Geophysical Activity Forecast: The geomagnetic field is expected to be predominately quiet on day one (February 17). An increase to unsettled to active conditions, with a chance for minor storm periods is expected late on day one into day two (18 February). The increased activity is forecast due to the expected arrival of the CME associated with the X2 flare that occurred on 15/0156Z. Day three (19 February) is expected to be quiet to active as the disturbance subsides.
June 7th, 2011 at 11:50 pm
@akkmastr I wish…You know NASA!
June 8th, 2011 at 12:30 am
@Skyywatcher88 it should have been updated every hour right?
June 8th, 2011 at 1:03 am
@akkmastr No…They haven’t updated yet.
June 8th, 2011 at 1:26 am
Great work!You the man!