Solar Activity Intensifies as Huge Sunspot Grows

Source - Space Weather News for July 9, 2017: http://spaceweather.com

SOLAR ACTIVITY INTENSIFIES: Sunspot AR2665, which emerged just as few days ago, has mushroomed into a behemoth nearly as wide as the planet Jupiter. On July 9th the fast-growing sunspot produced an M-class solar flare and a short-lived shortwave radio blackout over east Asia and Australia. Stronger flares and Earth-directed CMEs may be in the offing as AR2665 turns toward our planet in the days ahead.

Visit Spaceweather.com for images, movies and updates.

Big Sunspots Staring at Earth

Source - Space Weather News  for July 17, 2016: http://spaceweather.com

BIG SUNSPOTS STARING AT EARTH: Solar activity has been low for months.  That could soon change.  Two big sunspots are staring directly at Earth, and one of them has an unstable magnetic field that harbors energy for M-class solar flares. Images and updates are available at http://spaceweather.com

NOCTILUCENT CLOUDS INVADE THE USA: For the first time this summer, bright noctilucent clouds have crossed the Canadian border into the continental USA.  Formed by wisps of summertime water vapor freezing around meteor smoke, the electric-blue ripples were sighted by multiple observers in Seattle and surrounding areas. Check out the video on http://spaceweather.com.

Growing Sunspot Crackles with Flares

Source - Space Weather News for Dec. 23, 2015: http://spaceweather.com

CHRISTMAS FLARES:  A new sunspot (AR2473) is growing rapidly in the sun's southern hemisphere, more than quadrupling in size in the past 24 hours. Crackling with M-class solar flares, the sunspot has already caused several minor shortwave radio blackouts, mainly south of our planet's equator. More flares and radio blackouts are in the offing as the growing sunspot turns toward Earth. Visit http://spaceweather.com for more information.

Magnificent M-class Eruption on Aug. 24th

Source - Space Weather News for August 24, 2014: http://spaceweather.com

MAGNIFICENT SOLAR FLARE: A visually beautiful solar flare erupted from the east limb of the sun today.  Extreme UV radiation briefly ionized the upper layers of Earth's atmosphere; otherwise, our planet was not in the line of fire.  The responsible sunspot will turn toward Earth in the days ahead, boosting chances for geoeffective solar activity as the week unfolds. 

Visit http://spaceweather.com for photos and more information.

Solar Activity Picks Up

Source - Space Weather News for August 22, 2014: http://spaceweather.com

SOLAR ACTIVITY: Solar activity has been low for weeks. A new sunspot turning toward Earth could change that. AR2149 announced itself on August 21st with a M3-class solar flare that sent waves of ionization coursing through Earth's upper atmosphere.  The active region appears capable of more eruptions in the days ahead.  Visit http://spaceweather.com for updates.

MORNING SKY SHOW:  Set your alarm for dawn--again.  The crescent Moon is joining Jupiter and Venus to form a bright triangle in the early morning sky. The best time to look is August 23rd about 30 to 45 minutes before local sunrise. Photos of the encounter may be found at http://spaceweathergallery.com

Solar flare erupts from unexpected source

Source - Space Weather News for July 8, 2014: http://spaceweather.com

M6-CLASS SOLAR FLARE: On July 8th, Earth-orbiting satellites detected a strong M6-class solar flare.  The flare itself came as little surprise because there is a phalanx of large sunspots crossing the solar disk.  However, the source of the flare was unexpected.  

Check http://spaceweather.com for more information about the blast site and prospects for additional eruptions in the days ahead.

Huge Sunspot Erupts

Source - Space Weather News for Jan. 7, 2014: http://spaceweather.com

STRONG SOLAR ACTIVITY:  One of the largest sunspots in years, AR1944, has turned toward  Earth and it is crackling with strong flares.  So far on Jan. 7th, the active region has produced M7- and X1-class eruptions, and more appear to be in the offing.  As this alert is being issued, analysts are waiting for more data from solar observatories to clarify the possibility of CME impacts and geomagnetic storms in the days ahead.

For updates, stay tuned to: http://spaceweather.com.

SOLAR FLARE ALERTS:  Would you like a call the next time sunspot AR1944 erupts? X-flare alerts are available from http://spaceweathertext.com (text) and http://spaceweatherphone.com (voice).

Solar Activity is High as a Big Sunspot Turns to Face Earth

Source - Space Weather News for Nov. 8, 2013: http://spaceweather.com

HIGH SOLAR ACTIVITY: This week, Jupiter-sized sunspot AR1890 unleashed two brief but intense X-class solar flares and numerous M-class solar flares. More eruptions are in the offing as the sunspot turns to directly face Earth over the weekend.

X-flare alerts are available from http://spaceweathertext.com (text) and http://spaceweatherphone.com (voice).

CME and Solar Radiation Storm

Source - Space Weather News for May 22, 2013: http://spaceweather.com

SIGNIFICANT EXPLOSION: A solar radiation storm is in progress on May 22nd following an M5-class solar flare on the sun's western limb.  The explosion not only accelerated a hailstorm of protons toward our planet, but also produced a magnificent CME, which might deliver a glancing blow to Earth's magnetic field in the days ahead.

Check http://spaceweather.com for more information and updates.

Strong Solar Flare on May 3rd

Source - Space Weather News for May 3, 2013: http://spaceweather.com

STRONG FLARE: For the second time in three days, an active region just over the sun's east limb has exploded, producing a strong solar flare and CME.  The blast on May 3rd registered M5--not quite an X-flare, but still strong considering that the edge of the sun partially eclipsed the explosion as seen from Earth. Solar rotation is turning the active region toward Earth, and it should emerge later this weekend.  Visit http://spaceweather.com for updates.

SOLAR FLARE ALERTS: Would you like a call when solar flares are underway? X-flare alerts are available from http://spaceweathertext.com (text) and http://spaceweatherphone.com (voice).

Incoming Solar Storm - April 13th

Source - Space Weather News for April 11, 2013: http://spaceweather.com

INCOMING SOLAR STORM: A strong M6-class solar flare on April 11th has hurled a CME toward Earth.  Geomagnetic storms and high-latitude auroras are possible when the fast-moving cloud reaches our planet on April 13th.  Visit http://spaceweather.com for updates.

DON'T MISS THE STORM:  Would you like a call when the geomagnetic storm is underway?  Aurora and solar flare alerts are available from http://spaceweathertext.com (text) and http://spaceweatherphone.com (voice).

A Big Sunspot Turns Toward Earth

Source - Space Weather News for Jan. 11, 2013: http://spaceweather.com

ACTIVE SUNSPOT:  One of the biggest sunspots of the current solar cycle is now turning toward Earth. Named AR1654, the active region is crackling with medium-sized (M-class) flares and could be poised to break the recent spell of calm space weather around our planet.  Check http://spaceweather.com for images and updates.

SOLAR FLARE ALERTS: Would you like a call when solar flares are underway? X-flare alerts are available from http://spaceweathertext.com (text) and http://spaceweatherphone.com (voice).

Solar Activity Alert: New Sunspot Crackles with M-flares

Source - Space Weather News for Nov. 21, 2012: http://spaceweather.com

SOLAR ACTIVITY: A big new sunspot (AR1618) has emerged near the center of the solar disk, and it is crackling with strong M-class solar flares.  NOAA forecasters estimate a 70% chance of more M-flares today, and a 15% chance of powerful X-flares.  If the rapid growth of AR1618 continues apace, the Thanksgiving holiday (USA) could be filled with stormy space weather.  Check http://spaceweather.com for updates.

SOLAR FLARE ALERTS: Would you like a call when solar flares are underway? X-flare alerts are available from http://spaceweathertext.com (text) and http://spaceweatherphone.com (voice).

Solar Activity Moderately High

Source - Space Weather News for August 18, 2012: http://spaceweather.com

SOLAR ACTIVITY PICKS UP: Following a week of quiet, solar activity is picking up again with a series of M-class solar flares off the sun's northeastern limb.  So far none of the eruptions has been Earth-directed.  This could change, however, with the approach of an active farside sunspot that appears set to turn toward our planet in the days ahead.  Check http://spaceweather.com for movies and forecasts.

SOLAR FLARE ALERTS: Would you like a call when solar flares are underway? X-flare alerts are available from http://spaceweathertext.com (text) and http://spaceweatherphone.com (voice).

Solar Activity Picks Up

Source - Space Weather News for July 28, 2012: http://spaceweather.com

SOLAR FLARES: New sunspot AR1532 is crackling with M-class solar flares, including a brief but intense M6-flare on July 28th.  So far none of the eruptions has been Earth-directed, but this could change in the days ahead as the active region turns toward our planet. Check http://spaceweather.com for updates.

DON'T MISS THE NEXT FLARE: Would you like a call when strong flares are in progress? Realtime solar activity alerts are available from http://spaceweathertext.com (text) and http://spaceweatherphone.com (voice).

High Solar Activity Produces CMEs, Radio Bursts

Source - Space Weather News for July 5, 2012: http://spaceweather.com

HIGH SOLAR ACTIVITY: Sunspot AR1515 has grown into a behemoth more than 10 times wider than Earth. The active region is crackling with M-class solar flares and seems poised to produce even stronger X-flares in the days ahead.  At least one CME is en route to Earth, and ham radio operators are reporting shortwave solar radio bursts roaring from the loudspeakers of their receivers.  Stay tuned to http://spaceweather.com for more information and updates.

X-FLARE ALERTS: Would you like a call when solar flares are underway? X-flare alerts are available from http://spaceweathertext.com (text) and http://spaceweatherphone.com (voice).

Almost-X Flare Illuminates Earth on July 2nd

Source - Space Weather News for July 2, 2012: http://spaceweather.com

STRONG SOLAR FLARE: A big, active sunspot (AR1515) is growing on the Earthside of the sun. This morning it erupted, producing an M5.6-class solar flare that ionized Earth's upper atmosphere with a brief but intense pulse of X-rays and extreme ultraviolet radiation.  More eruptions are in the offing as the sunspot turns to face Earth.  Check http://spaceweather.com for more information and updates.

X-FLARE ALERTS: Would you like a call when solar flares are underway? X-flare alerts are available from http://spaceweathertext.com (text) and http://spaceweatherphone.com (voice).

Big Sunspot Crackling with Flares and Radio Bursts

Source - Space Weather News for May 9, 2012: http://spaceweather.com

RADIO-ACTIVE SUNSPOT: Huge sunspot AR1476 is crackling with M-class solar flares and appears to be on the verge of producing something even stronger. The sunspot's 'beta-gamma-delta' magnetic field harbors energy for X-class flares, the most powerful kind.  Radio operators are recording strong bursts of shortwave static from the sunspot as it turns toward Earth. Visit http://spaceweather.com for sample recordings and forecasts.

SUNSPOT TELESCOPE: AR1476 looks magnificent through a properly-filtered telescope. Explore Scientific's White Light Solar Observing System is perfect for sunspot watching, and it's available now in the Space Weather Store: http://www.shopspaceweather.com/explore-scientific-white-light-solar-observer-system.aspx

NASA SDO - Prominence & Flare, March 23, 2012

Source - LittleSDOHMI on Mar 23, 2012:

Within a very short time a beautiful prominence erupted on the upper western limb and a M1-class solar flare happened on the lower eastern limb.

Enjoy this beautiful view through various wavelengths of the AIA instrument on board NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory.

Credit: NASA SDO

Geomagnetic Storms Possible on March 11-12

Source - Space Weather News for March 11, 2012: http://spaceweather.com

INCOMING CMEs: One and perhaps two CMEs are expected to hit Earth's magnetic field today. Of particular interest is a CME launched toward Earth by a powerful M8-class eruption on March 10. Forecasters say the cloud could spark minor to severe geomagnetic storms when it arrives on March 11-12. High-latitude sky watchers should be alert for auroras tonight. Check http://spaceweather.com for updates.

WHAT DOES A SOLAR FLARE SOUND LIKE? Saturday's M8-class flare hit Earth with a burst of strong shortwave radio emissions. Today's edition of Spaceweather.com features an audio recording of the blast captured by an amateur astronomer in New Mexico.

SPACE WEATHER ALERTS: Would you like a call when geomagnetic storms are in progress? Aurora alerts are available from http://spaceweathertext.com (text) and http://spaceweatherphone.com (voice).