Aurora Alert! Strong Solar Flare.

STRONG SOLAR FLARE: The magnetic field of sunspot AR1719 erupted on April 11th at 0716 UT, producing an M6-class solar flare. NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory recorded the explosion's extreme ultraviolet flash:

Shortly after the flare, a CME emerged from the blast site. NOAA forecasters estimate a 60% chance of geomagnetic storms on April 13th when the cloud reaches Earth. High-latitude sky watchers, be alert for auroras!

source: http://spaceweather.com/

Strong Geomagnetic Storm Creating Northern Lights As Far South As Colorado.

STRONG CME IMPACT: As predicted, a coronal mass ejection (CME) hit Earth's magnetic field at 0600 UT on March 17th. The impact lifted the solar wind speed from 300 km/s to 700 km/s and sparked a moderately strong (Kp=6) geomagnetic storm. Northern Lights spilled across the Canadian border into the United States as far south as Colorado:

"Just after 4 am local time, the skies turned green and red behind the twin stone monoliths of Rabbit Ears Peak near Steamboat Springs, Colorado," reports photographer and astronomy professsor Jimmy Westlake.

In the contiguous United States, auroras also appeared above New York, Washington, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Wyoming, Michigan and the Dakotas. Scan the realtime photo gallery and count the states.

The show's not over. Geomagnetic storming is underway as Earth passes through the wake of the CME. High-latitude sky watchers should remain alert for auroras

Auroras 
Taken by John Welling on March 17, 2013 @ Ashland,Wi.

Colorado Aurora
Taken by Jimmy Westlake on March 17, 2013 @ Rabbit Ears Pass near Steamboat Springs, Colorado

Aurora Taken by Robert Farrimond on March 17, 2013 @ Vantage, Washington State

Aurora
Taken by Paul Robinson on March 17, 2013 @ 6 miles north of Saratoga, WY

Solar wind
speed: 604.5 km/sec
density: 2.2 protons/cm³explanation | more dataUpdated: Today at 0156 UT

Geomagnetic Storm Forecasts

The geomagnetic storm probabilities are the estimated chances of at least one 3-hour K index, at the indicated level, for each of the next 3 days.

Active: K = 4.
Minor storm: K = 5.
Major or Severe storm: K > 6.

The "K index" is a 3-hourly quasi-logarithmic local index of geomagnetic activity relative to an assumed quiet-day curve for the recording site. Range is from 0 to 9. The K index measures the deviation of the most disturbed horizontal component of the magnetic field.

Coronal Holes: 16 Mar 13 Solar wind flowing from this coronal hole could reach Earth on March 19-20. Credit: SDO/AIA.



main source: http://www.spaceweather.com

Magnetic Changes in the Sun as it's Poles are Shifting.

Unusual magnetic changes in the Sun – The north pole of the Sun had started flipping about a year earlier than expected

BY 

CHILLYMANJARO

 – APRIL 23, 2012POSTED IN: FEATURED STORIES, SOLAR ACTIVITIES, SPACE, SPACE WEATHER

While scientists had predicted that the next flip would begin from May 2013, the solar observation satellite Hinode found that the north pole of the sun had started flipping about a year earlier than expected. There was no noticeable change in the south pole.

The researchers found signs of unusual magnetic changes in the sun. Normally, the sun’s magnetic field flips about once every 11 years. In 2001, the sun’s magnetic north pole, which was in the northern hemisphere, flipped to the south. If that trend continues, magnetic field polarity at the solar poles will reverse and become quadrupolar in May, meaning positive fields will emerge in the North and South poles and negative fields will emerge on the equator, according to the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan and other institutes. A research team led by Saku Tsuneta, a professor at the observatory, analyzed solar magnetic fields data using Hinode, an observational satellite, and confirmed that the polarity of the magnetic field at the North Pole began to reverse in July last year.

Changes in Sun's magnetic poles (Credit: The Asahi Shimbun)

The research team believes the quadrupolar pattern also emerged in the 17th to 18th century. The Japanese study found that the trend of current sunspot activity is similar to records from Maunder Minimum, period about 300 years ago when temperatures are estimated to have been about 2.5 degrees lower than in the second half of the 20th century. Officials of the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan and the Riken research foundation said on April 19 that the activity of sunspots appeared to resemble a 70-year period in the 17th century in which London’s Thames froze over and cherry blossoms bloomed later than usual in Kyoto.

In 2008 in the Northern Hemisphereof the Sun (left) Hinude observed large patches of negative polarity, shown in orange. In 2011, the same area showed much smaller patches and a more even distribution of negative and positive (blue) regions. (Credit: JAXA/Hinode)

The Sun’s Poles

Like Earth, the Sun has a North Pole, a South Pole, and an equator. The poles of the Sun are different in several ways from the areas near the Sun’s equator. About every 11 years, the Sun’s magnetic poles flip – North becomes South and vice versa. This flip happens around the peak of the sunspot cycle, when there are lots of sunspots. Earth’s magnetic poles sometimes flip, too. However, it is usually many thousands or even millions of years between flips of Earth’s field - not just 11 years! The last polar reversal occurred around 750,000 years ago, but it can happen at shorter intervals, depending on prevailing circumstances.  Some researchers think our planet is overdue for another one, but nobody knows exactly when the next reversal might occur. Many scientists, including Einstein, have predicted that another polar shift is close at hand.  Several ancient civilisations have left records predicting global devastation and change.  The Hopi Indian and Mayan calendars have predicted global devastation and an era of change starting in the year 2012.

The ongoing changes are not confined to the space immediately around our star, Hathaway added. The Sun’s magnetic field envelops the entire solar system in a bubble that scientists call the “heliosphere.” The heliosphere extends 50 to 100 astronomical units (AU) beyond the orbit of Pluto. Inside it is the solar system – outside is interstellar space.

read more here http://thewatchers.adorraeli.com/2012/04/23/unusual-magnetic-changes-in-the-sun-the-north-pole-of-the-sun-had-started-flipping-about-a-year-earlier-than-expected/

"The Great Switch" --Sun's Magnetic Field Does a Complete Reverse Every 11 Years

           


About every 11 years the magnetic field on the sun reverses completely – the north magnetic pole switches to south, and vice versa. This flip coincides with the greatest solar activity seen on the sun in any given cycle, known as "solar maximum."

While the cycle unfolds with seeming regularity every 11 years, in two upcoming papers scientists highlight just how asymmetrical this process actually is. Currently the polarity at the north of the sun appears to have decreased close to zero – that is, it seems to be well into its polar flip from magnetic north to south -- but the polarity at the south is only just beginning to decrease.

"Right now, there's an imbalance between the north and the south poles," says Jonathan Cirtain, a space scientist at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala., who is also NASA's project scientist for a Japanese solar mission called Hinode. "The north is already in transition, well ahead of the south pole, and we don't understand why."

One of the two papers relies on Hinode data that shows direct observations of this polar switch. The other paper makes use of a new technique observing microwave radiation from the sun's polar atmosphere to infer the magnetic activity on the surface. 

The asymmetry described in the papers belies models of the sun that assume that the sun's north and south polarities switch at the same time. In addition, both papers agree that the switch is imminent at the north pole, well in advance of general predictions that solar maximum for this cycle will occur in 2013. Lastly, the direct Hinode results also suggest a need to re-examine certain other solar models as well.

Measuring the magnetic activity near the poles isn't easy because all of our solar telescopes view the sun approximately at its equator, offering only an oblique view of the poles, when they require a top-down view for accurate magnetic measurements. Hinode can observe this activity annually with its high resolution Solar Optical Telescope that can map magnetic fields when observing them from near the equator. 

The microwave radiation technique described in the second paper makes use of the discovery in 2003 that as the sun moves toward solar maximum, giant eruptions on the sun, called prominence eruptions – which during solar minimum, are concentrated at lower solar latitudes -- begin to travel toward higher latitudes near the poles. In addition, the polar brightness in the microwave wavelengths declines to very low values.

"These prominence eruptions are associated with increased solar activity such as coronal mass ejections or CMEs, so CMEs originating from higher latitudes also point to an oncoming solar maximum," says Nat Gopalswamy. Gopalswamy is a solar scientist at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, who is the first author on the microwave observations paper, which was accepted by The Astrophysical Journal on April 11, 2012. "When we start to see prominence eruptions above 60 degrees latitude on the sun, then we know that we are reaching solar maximum."

read more at http://www.dailygalaxy.com/my_weblog/2012/04/the-great-switch-suns-magnetic-field-does-a-complete-reverse-every-11-years.html

Aurora Watch. Over The U.S.A.!

AURORAS OVER THE USA: A solar wind stream hit Earth's magnetic field during the waning hours of Saturday, Feb. 18th. Although the stream was expected, the bright auroras it produced were not. Northern Lights spilled across the Canadian border into several US states including Wisconsin, Michigan, Nebraska, North Dakota, Iowa, and Minnesota:

Travis Novitsky took this picture from Grand Portage, MN. "My girlfriend and I were just settling in to watch a movie when the auroras made a surprise appearance," he says. "A quick look out the back door of my house revealed that, yes indeed, the lights were out! For the next hour and a half we were treated to a green glow peppered with dancing curtains of green, purple and red."

In Nebraska--yes, Nebraska--"I saw auroras on and off for approximately 2 hours from around 9pm to 11pm local time," reports Chris Allington of Crofton, NE. "There was a brief spell where color was visible to the eye with rays and bands." Allington stitched together a series of 20s exposures to create this movie.

At the height of the display, researchers at the Poker Flats Research Range outside of Fairbanks, Alaska, launched a suborbital rocket to investigate how auroras affect GPS systems. Several photographers in the area caught the rocket flying into the Northern Lights. 

This episode might have been amplified by the action of a co-rotating interaction region or "CIR." CIRs are transition zones between fast and slow solar wind streams. Solar wind plasma piles up in these regions, producing density gradients and shock waves that do a good job of sparking auroras. Local solar wind data suggest that Earth moved through a CIR around 1500 UT on Feb. 18th.

Source: SpaceWeather

UPDATE: CHANCE OF ANOTHER X-CLASS SOLAR FLARE UPGRADED...Monster Active Sun Spot Region Has Rotated Toward Earth & Sent Us An X-Class Solar Flare

UPDATE: 11/4/2011

CHANCE OF FLARES: NOAA forecasters have upgraded the chance of X-class solar flares today to 20%. The source would be AR1339, one of the biggest sunspots in many years. The active region rotated over the sun's eastern limb two days ago and now it is turning toward Earth.

The sunspot has already unleashed one X-flare on Nov. 3rd around 2027 UT. A movie from NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory shows the extreme ultraviolet flash:

The flare created waves of ionization in Earth's upper atmosphere, altering the normal propagation of radio waves over Europe and the Americas. In Ireland, the flare's effect was felt even after dark.

A cloud of plasma or "CME" raced away from the blast site at 1100 km/s. The CME is not heading for Earth. It is, however, heading for Mercury and Venus. Click on the arrow to view a movie of the CME's forecast track:

Analysts at the Goddard Space Weather Lab say the CME will hit Mercury on Nov. 4th around 16:14 UT. NASA's MESSENGER probe in orbit around Mercury will be monitoring the effects of the impact. If the CME overwhelms Mercury's relatively weak magnetic field, it could scour material off the planet's surface creating a temporary atmosphere and adding material to Mercury's comet-like tail. The CME should hit Venus on Nov. 5th; the gossamer cloud will probably break harmlessly against the top of planet's ultra-dense atmosphere.

http://spaceweather.com/

******************************************************************************
X-FLARE: Earth-orbiting satellites have just detected an X2-class solar flare. The source is huge sunspot AR1339, described below. Stay tuned for updates.

MAGNIFICENT SUNSPOT: One of the largest sunspots in years is rotating over the sun's northeastern limb. NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory took this picture of AR1339 during the early hours of Nov. 3rd:

Measuring some 40,000 km wide and at least twice that in length, the sprawling sunspot group is an easy target for backyard solar telescopes. Two or three of the sunspot's dark cores are wider than Earth itself.

Naturally, such a large sunspot has potential for strong flares. NOAA forecasters estimate a 50% chance of M-class solar flares during the next 24 hours. One such eruption has already occured: An M4-flare at 2200 UT on Nov. 2nd produced a bright flash of extreme UV radiation (SDO movie) and hurled a coronal mass ejection (CME) into space. The CME is not heading our way. Future CMEs could have greater effect as AR1339 turns toward Earth in the days ahead.

http://www.spaceweather.com/

http://www.n3kl.org/sun/images/noaa_xrays.gif?

2011-11-03 15:06   A benevolent monster of a region?
A monster of an active region, NOAA number 11339, has rotated on to the Earth-facing side of the Sun.  This is the largest active region in almost seven years, since January 2005.  It has produced only a few minor flares so far, but SWPC will be keeping a close eye on it to watch for any threatening behavior.  This region is likely to remain a threat for the 11 days or so it will take to rotate back to the far side of the Sun.
http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/

UPDATE: 11-4-2011

CHANCE OF FLARES: NOAA forecasters have upgraded the chance of X-class solar flares today to 20%. The source would be AR1339, one of the biggest sunspots in many years. The active region rotated over the sun's eastern limb two days ago and now it is turning toward Earth. Solar flare alerts: text, voice.

The sunspot has already unleashed one X-flare on Nov. 3rd around 2027 UT. A movie from NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory shows the extreme ultraviolet flash:

The flare created waves of ionization in Earth's upper atmosphere, altering the normal propagation of radio waves over Europe and the Americas. In Ireland, the flare's effect was felt even after dark.

A cloud of plasma or "CME" raced away from the blast site at 1100 km/s. The CME is not heading for Earth. It is, however, heading for Mercury and Venus. Click on the arrow to view a movie of the CME's forecast track:

Analysts at the Goddard Space Weather Lab say the CME will hit Mercury on Nov. 4th around 16:14 UT. NASA's MESSENGER probe in orbit around Mercury will be monitoring the effects of the impact. If the CME overwhelms Mercury's relatively weak magnetic field, it could scour material off the planet's surface creating a temporary atmosphere and adding material to Mercury's comet-like tail. The CME should hit Venus on Nov. 5th; the gossamer cloud will probably break harmlessly against the top of planet's ultra-dense atmosphere.

http://spaceweather.com/

---

Geomagnetic Storms Cause Auroras In Washington, Wisconsin, Vermont, Montana, Maine, Minnesota, North Dakota.

GEOMAGNETIC ACTIVITY CONTINUES: Earth's magnetic field is still reverberating from the impact of a CME on Sept. 9th with intermittant geomagnetic storms in progress around both poles. High-latitude sky watchers should remain alert for auroras mingling with the light of the waxing full Moon. Aurora alerts: text, voice.

On Sept. 9th and 10th, Northern Lights were spotted in the United States as far south as Washington, Wisconsin, Vermont, Montana, Maine, Minnesota and North Dakota. In Michigan, it was like a day at the beach:

Shawn Malone took the picture from the shores of Lake Superior near the city of Marquete. "Auroras appeared right after dusk, barely visible because of the moon," he says. "Gradually the fog moved in, creating a surreal landscape--the aurora and a fogbow!"

http://spaceweather.com/

 

http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/today.html#xray

 

http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/today.html#xray

Geomagnetic Storm SERIES Heading To Earth...Now!

Geomagnetic Storm Series Heading For Earth

By Cassie Ryan
Epoch Times StaffCreated: Feb 17, 2011Last Updated: Feb 17, 2011

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Related articles: Science > Space & Astronomy

Sunspot AR 1158 unleashed several solar flares since Sunday, Feb. 13. This photo is from Wednesday. (Courtesy of NOAA)

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Geomagnetic storms are on a pathway to the Earth, with disruption of satellite-based systems and power grids likely, along with Northern Lights displays, following intense solar flare activity, according to the National Weather Service(NOAA).


Sunspot AR 1158 unleashed the first of three flares on Sunday, Feb. 13. There was an even bigger ejection on Monday, the biggest solar flare in more than four years. Coronal mass ejections (CMEs), or giant clouds of plasma, are likely to follow, causing geomagnetic storms that can knock out satellite-based systems and create aurora borealis displays.


NOAA's Space Weather Center issues alerts to industries that may be affected by the geomagnetic storms.


"These alerts are sent out to electricalpower grid companies, airlines, GPS, military, ocean shipping routes, just to name a few industries that may be affected by the impacts of a solar flare and associated coronal mass ejection (CME) like the one we just had," Phil Chamberlin from NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory told SPACE.com.


On Tuesday, shortwave radio communication systems were disrupted in southern China and auroras were seen in parts of the northern hemisphere, including Northern Ireland. The storm affected the Earth's ionosphere in China, which is crucial for shortwave radio systems to work properly.


Further Northern Lights displays are predicted in northern areas of the United Kingdom on Thursday and Friday night, according to the British Geological Survey, and some localized areas in North America, such as the Great Lakes, New England and New York.


NOAA’s Space Weather Center says that three geomagnetic storms were generated by Sunday's massive solar flare.


“The first interplanetary shock, driven by the CME from Sunday, is expected any time,” the center said on its website, adding that the storm ratings (G1 to G5) could be significant. “Soon thereafter, the shock from Monday evening's R3/CME is due. Look for G1-G2 (and maybe periods of G3 if the following shock compresses and enhances the CME magnetic field).”


“Geomagnetic storming should persist 24-48 hours. Back at the Sun, Region 1158 is still hot and fast-growing, Region 1161 is producing small flares,” the center added.


According to the latest update from the center on Feb. 17, further flares are likely with an associated geomagnetic storm possible on Friday, Feb. 18.


“Solar activity is expected to be moderate with M-class activity likely and a slight chance for an isolated X-class event for the next three days (18-20 February),” the website said.


“The geomagnetic field is expected to be active with a chance for isolated minor storm periods" for Friday, Feb. 18, the website said.


"This activity is due to the effects of two CMEs; the first associated with an M6 event at 13/1735Z and the second associated with an X2 event at 15/0156Z. Quiet to active conditions are expected for day two [Saturday, Feb. 19] as the effects of these disturbances wane,” it added.

http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/science/geomagnetic-storm-series-heading-for-earth-51483.html