SOHO LASCO C2 Latest Image

CME STRIKE, GEOMAGNETIC STORMS: Earth's magnetic field is still reverberating from a CME strike on May 24th. The glancing blow around 1800 UT sparked at least three episodes of polar geomagnetic storming (Kp=5) on May 24-25. Sunspots AR1755 and AR1756 have 'beta-gamma' magnetic fields that harbor energy for M-class solar flares. . Solar wind flowing from this coronal hole could brush past Earth's magnetic field on May 27-28. Solar Wind speed: 750.0 km/sec

ELECTRON STORM: In the past 24 hours, the flux of high-energy electrons swarming around Earth has increased more than tenfold. The source of this "electron storm" is a 600 km/s stream of solar wind buffeting Earth's magnetic field. NOAA cautions satellite operators that "satellite systems may experience significant charging" in response to accumulated electrons. Current Solar Wind Speed: 674.9 km/sec

CORONAL HOLE: A hole in the sun's atmosphere--a "coronal hole"--has opened up and it is spewing solar wind into space. NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory photographed the UV-dark gap during the early hours of May 29th: Coronal holes are places where the sun's magnetic field spreads apart and allows solar wind to escape. A windy stream of plasma flowing from this particular hole should reach Earth on June 2-3. The impact could spark geomagnetic storms and auroras around the poles.

CHANCE OF STORMS: NOAA forecasters estimate a 50% chance of polar geomagnetic storms on June 2nd as a high-speed (700 km/s) solar wind stream buffets Earth's magnetic field. The warning comes on the heels of a lengthy G2-class geomagnetic storm on May 31-June 1 sparked by the arrival of an interplanetary shock wave. The source of the shock is unknown. Current speculation focuses on a corotating interaction region (CIR)--that is, a shock-like transition zone between high- and low-speed solar wind streams. Whatever it was, the impact ignited some beautiful auroras. Solar wind flowing from this coronal hole should hit Earth's magnetic field on June 3-4.

Solar wind speed: 752.3 km/sec

CHANCE OF FLARES: Sunspot AR1762 in the sun's southern hemisphere has developed a 'beta-gamma-delta' magnetic field that harbors energy for X-class solar flares. So far, however, the sunspot is producing only low-level B- and C-class eruptions. The calm before the storm?

Solar wind speed: 538.3 km/sec

SOLAR FLARE AND CME: Southern sunspot AR1762 erupted today, June 5th, producing a long-duration M1-class solar flare that peaked around 0900 UT. The explosion hurled a right coronal mass ejection (CME) into space, shown here in a coronagraph image from the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory: Because the sunspot is approaching the sun's southwestern limb, the blast was not squarely Earth-directed. In fact, it might miss us altogether. Stay tuned for further analysis of the trajectory of the CME.

Meanwhile, more eruptions could be in the offing. AR1762 has a 'beta-gamma-delta' magnetic field that harbors energy for X-flares much stronger than the M1-class event that occured this morning. Solar wind flowing from this coronal hole should hit Earth's magnetic field on June 8-9. Solar wind speed: 493.7 km/sec


Stellar Winds May Electrify Exoplanets
The strangest class of exoplanets found to date might be even stranger than astronomers have thought. A new model suggests that they are partially heated by electric currents linked to their host stars. Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) astronomer Dr. Derek Buzasi has proposed a model in which electric currents arising from the interaction between the planet's magnetic field and the hot charged wind from the star flow through the interior of the planet, heating it like an electric toaster....

... Many of the planets found by the Kepler mission are of a type known as "hot Jupiters." While about the same size as Jupiter in our own solar system, these exoplanets are located much closer to their host stars than even Mercury is to our Sun, meaning that their atmospheres are heated to temperatures of thousands of degrees.

One problem scientists have had in understanding the hot Jupiters is that many are inflated to sizes even larger than expected for planets so close to their stars.

Explanations for the "puffiness" of these exoplanets generally involve some kind of extra heating for the planet. Proposed sources for the extra heat have included tides and interactions between the high-speed winds and magnetic fields expected on these planets, but none of these models successfully explains the observation that more magnetically active stars tend to have puffier hot Jupiters orbiting around them.

"This kind of electric heating doesn't happen very effectively on planets in our solar system because their outer atmospheres are cold and don't conduct electricity very well," says Buzasi.

"But heat up the atmosphere by moving the planet closer to its star and now very large currents can flow, which delivers extra heat to the deep interior of the planet - just where we need it." More magnetically active stars have more energetic winds and would provide larger currents and more heat to their planets.

M-CLASS SOLAR FLARE: At the end of the day on June 7th (2249 UT) departing sunspot AR1762 unleashed a strong M5.9-class solar flare. NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) recorded the extreme ultraviolet flash: Because of the sunspot's location on the sun's southwestern limb, the blast was not particulary geoeffective. X-radiation from the flare ionized Earth's upper atmosphere, but only briefly, while a CME that flew away from the blast site is expected to miss our planet entirely. Solar wind
speed: 431.6 km/sec

NOCTILUCENT CLOUDS BEHAVING STRANGELY: Noctilucent clouds have surprised researchers by appearing early this year. The unexpected apparition of electric-blue clouds before the middle of May hints at a change in the "teleconnections" of Earth's atmosphere. NASA: http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2013/07jun_nlcs/

"The 2013 season is remarkable because it started in the northern hemisphere a week earlier than any other season that AIM has observed," reports Cora Randall of the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics at the University of Colorado. "This is quite possibly earlier than ever before. The early start is extra-puzzling because of the solar cycle. Researchers have long known that NLCs tend to peak during solar minimum and bottom-out during solar maximum—a fairly strong anti-correlation. "If anything, we would have expected a later start this year because the solar cycle is near its maximum. "It turns out that meteoroids play an important role in the formation of NLCs," explains Hampton University Professor James Russell, the principal investigator of AIM. "Specks of debris from disintegrating meteors act as nucleating points where water molecules can gather and crystallize." One of the greenhouse gases that has become more abundant in Earth's atmosphere since the 19th century is methane. "When methane makes its way into the upper atmosphere, it is oxidized by a complex series of reactions to form water vapor," says Russell. "This extra water vapor is then available to grow ice crystals for NLCs." The early start of the 2013 season appears to be caused by a change in atmospheric “teleconnections.” “Half-a-world away from where the northern NLCs are forming, strong winds in the southern stratosphere are altering global circulation patterns,” explains Randall. "This year more water vapor is being pushed into the high atmosphere where NLCs love to form, and the air there is getting colder."

STORM WARNING: NOAA estimates a 60% chance of polar geomagnetic storms on June 9th when a CME is expected to deliver a glancing blow to Earth's magnetic field.

QUIET SUN: Solar activity is low. None of the sunspots on the Earthside of the sun has the kind of complex magnetic field that harbors energy for strong flares. NOAA forecasters put the odds of an M-class solar flare at 20% on June 26th, waning to 10% on June 27th.

NOCTILUCENT CLOUDS--AIR VS AIM: Every day, NASA's AIM spacecraft maps the distribution of noctilucent clouds (NLCs) around Earth's north pole. The results are displayed on spaceweather.com in the form of the "daily daisy." On June 20th, pilot Brian Whittaker flew past a vivid display of NLCs over the North Atlantic Ocean and he decided to compare his own view to that of AIM. Here are the results:


"Once again, AIM's daily daisy-wheel allowed me to see where the northern horizon noctilucent clouds truly were!" says Whittaker. "This display reached a maximum height of about 10 degrees as seen from 37,000 feet at 50N latitude. It was my 4th and best sighting of 2013 so far."

2013 is shaping up to be a good year for NLCs. The clouds surprised researchers by appearing early this year, and many bright displays have already been recorded. Once confined to the Arctic, NLCs have been sighted in recent years as far south as Utah, Colorado, and Nebraska. They might spread even farther south in 2013.

Observing tips: Look west 30 to 60 minutes after sunset when the sun has dipped 6o to 16o below the horizon. If you see luminous blue-white tendrils spreading across the sky, you've probably spotted a noctilucent cloud.

GEOMAGNETIC STORM: A minor (Kp=5) geomagnetic storm is underway around the poles. Solar wind conditions favor auroras at high latitudes, although in the northern hemisphere solstice twilight will sharply reduce visibility. Aurora alerts: text, voice.

EARTH-DIRECTED CME: June 28th began with a double solar flare. Magnetic fields around sunspots AR1777 and AR1778 erupted in quick succession between 0130 UT and 0345 UT, producing two C-class (C4, C7) flares. A CME emerging from the sprawling blast site appears to be heading for Earth, although not squarely. Click to view a coronagraph movie from the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory:


An analysis of this complicated event is still underway. It is possible that Earth's magnetic field will receive a glancing blow from the CME on or about June 30th. The impact could cause minor geomagnetic storms. Stay tuned for updates.

SUBSIDING STORM: A geomagnetic storm that began late on June 28th when Earth passed through a region of south-pointing magnetism in the solar wind is subsiding. At its peak (Kp=7), the storm sparked Northern Lights in the USA as far south as Kansas. In total, observers in more than a dozen US states have reported green and purple skies over night.

The storm also ignited auroras in the southern hemisphere. "There was lots of colour visible to naked eye--very strong," reports Jo Malcomson from South Arm, Tasmania.
Solar wind speed: 415.4 km/sec 6/30/13 Solar wind speed: 534.0 km/sec

June 29, 2013 – SPACE – EARTH-DIRECTED CME: When the current spate of geomagnetic storms is over, another could follow close on its heels. A coronal mass ejection (CME)is expected to deliver a glancing blow to Earth’s magnetic field late on June 30th or early on July 31st. The cloud was propelled in our direction during the early hours of June 28th when magnetic filaments around sunspot AR1777 erupted. The explosion registered approximately C4 on the Richter Scale of Solar Flares. Because the CME is not heading squarely toward Earth, there is still a chance that it will miss. Stay tuned for updates as the arrival time approaches. – Space Weather

A SLOW CME APPROACHES: NOAA forecasters estimate a 60% chance of minor geomagnetic storms on July 5th when a slow-moving CME is expected to sweep languidly past Earth. High-latitude sky watchers should be alert for auroras on July 5-6. Aurora alerts: text, voice.

SUNSPOTS OF INTEREST: A massive array of sunspots has rotated over the sun's southeastern limb, sharply boosting the odds of a solar flare. NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory photographed sunspot complex AR1785-1787 during the early hours of the 4th of July:

The leading sunspot, AR1785, has a 'beta-gamma' magnetic field that harbors energy for strong M-class solar flares. NOAA forecasters estimate a 40% chance of such eruptions on July 4th. The fireworks will not, however, be Earth-directed because the sunspot is located near the sun's limb. This could change in the days ahead as the sun's rotation turns AR1785 toward our planet.
The largest dark cores in this sunspot complex are as wide as Earth, making the ensemble an easy target for backyard solar telescopes. Amateur astronomers are encouraged to monitor developments.

EARTH AT APHELION: Today, you are farther from the sun than usual. Earth's orbit around the sun is not a perfect circle, it's an ellipse, and on July 5th, Earth is at the most distant end of the curve. Astronomers call this "aphelion." When we are at aphelion, the sun appears smaller in the sky (by 1.7%) and global solar heating is actually a little less (by 3.5%) than the yearly average. This provides scant relief from northern summer heat; click here for reasons why.

BIG SOUTHERN SUNSPOTS: One of the biggest sunspot groups of Solar Cycle 24 is emerging near the sun's southeastern limb. AR1785 has a "beta-gamma-delta" magnetic field that harbors energy for powerful X-class solar flares. Another active region trailing behind it, AR1787, is only slightly less potent, with a magnetic field capable of M-class eruptions. NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory photographed the sprawling complex during the early hours of July 5th:

These sunspots are a sign that the sun's southern hemisphere is waking up. For most of the current solar cycle, the northern half of the sun has dominated sunspot counts and flare production. The south has been lagging behind--until now. June brought a surge in southern sunspots, and the trend is continuing in July. This "southern awakening" could herald a double-peaked Solar Maximum due in late 2013-early 2014.

The largest dark cores in sunspot complex AR1785-1787 are as wide as Earth, making the ensemble an easy target for backyard solar telescopes. Amateur astronomers are encouraged to monitor developments, as NOAA forecasters estimate a 40% chance of M-flares during the next 24 hours

CHANCE OF STORMS: According to NOAA forecasters the odds of a polar geomagnetic storm on July 17th are 25%, increasing to 50% on July 18th when a solar wind stream is expected to hit Earth's magnetic field. High-latitude sky watchers should be alert for auroras. Sunspots AR1791 and AR1793 pose a threat for M-class solar flares. Solar wind flowing from the indicated coronal hole could reach Earth on July 19-20 Solar wind speed: 368.4 km/sec

AURORAS OVER YELLOWSTONE: A CME swept past Earth on July 13th. The impact was gentle and did not spark a geomagnetic storm. However, south-pointing magnetic fields in the CME's wake had greater effect. The "negative Bz" opened a crack in Earth's magnetosphere, allowing solar wind to pour in and fuel high-latitude auroras. Zack Clothier photographed these over Yellowstone National Park on July 15th:


"At about midnight on July 15th, just as the moon was setting, the lights came alive over White Dome Geyser in the Lower Geyser Basin of Yellowstone National Park," says Clothier. "While I was standing there in the darkness a coyote started howling nearby, adding to the already eeriness of the scene. If you look closely you can see a meteor streaking down towards the geyser, to the left of the Milky Way."

More scenes like this are possible on July 18th when a solar wind stream is expected to hit Earth's magnetic field. High-latitude sky watchers should remain alert for auroras.

CHANCE OF STORMS: Earth is inside a solar wind stream. A stream of high-speed solar wind is blowing past Earth. So far the low-density stream is doing little to spark geomagnetic storms. This could change, however, with a shift in the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF). A south-pointing IMF would allow this fast wind into Earth's magnetosphere, possibly sparking bright auroras. NOAA forecasters estimate a 50% chance of polar geomagnetic storms on July 20th. Sunspot AR1793 has a beta-gamma magnetic field that harbors energy for M-class solar flares. However, the sunspot is quiet. Solar wind speed: 480.9 km/sec

ERUPTING MAGNETIC FILAMENTS: During the late hours of July 26th, two filaments of magnetism erupted on the sun. The first to blow was this loop on the sun's southwestern limb: A second filament connecting sunspots AR1800 and AR1805 erupted shortly thereafter. Both blasts are captured in this movie, recorded by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory.

The explosions hurled coronal mass ejections (CMEs) into space: movie. One of them (the one propelled by the filament connecting AR1800 and AR1805) might be heading in the general direction of Earth. An analysis the CME's trajectory is in progress as more imagery becomes available. Sunspot AR1800 has a beta-gamma magnetic field that harbors energy for M-class solar flares. Solar wind speed: 478.3 km/sec