Real Time Images of the Sun
SOHO EIT 304 |
SOHO EIT 284 Animated |
LASCO/C2 |
The sun is constantly monitored for sun spots and coronal mass ejections. EIT (Extreme ultraviolet Imaging Telescope) images the solar atmosphere at several wavelengths, and therefore, shows solar material at different temperatures. In the images taken at 304 Angstrom the bright material is at 60,000 to 80,000 degrees Kelvin. In those taken at 171 Angstrom, at 1 million degrees. 195 Angstrom images correspond to about 1.5 million Kelvin, 284 Angstrom to 2 million degrees. The hotter the temperature, the higher you look in the solar atmosphere.
Solar activity reached very high levels. Region 3663 (N25W64, Fkc/beta-gamma-delta) edged closer to the western limb, making accurate analysis of its magnetic structure difficult. However, based on its recent activity, it would appear the delta configuration still remains. This region produced several M-class flares and an X1.0 flare at 08/0141 UTC. Region 3664 (S20W15, Fkc/beta-gamma-delta) also maintained its delta configuration and had significant growth in its intermediate and trailer spots. It is now the largest of the regions, with an overall areal coverage over 1,000 millionths. This region also produced several M-class flares and an X1.0 flare at 08/0509 UTC. The X flare was accompanied by Type II and IV sweeps and a 10.7 cm radio burst. A halo CME associated with this event is first visible in C2 imagery near 08/0600 UTC. Preliminary modeling efforts showed an arrival time early on 11 May. However, additional analysis and modeling are ongoing. The remaining spotted active regions were stable or in gradual decay and largely inactive.
Solar Activity Forecast
Issued: 2024 May 08 1230 UTC
Solar activity is expected to persist at moderate to high levels over 08-10 May, with M-class flares (R1-R2/Minor-Moderate) expected and a high chance for X-class flares (R3/Strong), due to the continued flare potential of Regions 3663 and 3664. Energetic
Real Time Solar X-ray and Solar Wind
Solar Cycle Progression Solar Cycle chart updated using the latest ISES predictions. |
Real-Time Solar Wind Real-Time Solar Wind data broadcast from NASA's ACE satellite. |
The Solar Cycle is observed by counting the frequency and placement of sunspots visible on the Sun. Solar minimum occurred in December, 2008. Solar maximum is expected to occur in May, 2013.
Solar X-ray Flux This plot shows 3-days of 5-minute solar x-ray flux values measured on the SWPC primary and secondary GOES satellites. |
Satellite Environment Plot The Satellite Environment Plot combines satellite and ground-based data to provide an overview of the current geosynchronous satellite environment. |
Auroral Activity Extrapolated from NOAA POES
Northern Hemi Auroral Map |
Southern Hemi Auroral Map |
Instruments on board the NOAA Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite (POES) continually monitor the power flux carried by the protons and electrons that produce aurora in the atmosphere. SWPC has developed a technique that uses the power flux observations obtained during a single pass of the satellite over a polar region (which takes about 25 minutes) to estimate the total power deposited in an entire polar region by these auroral particles. The power input estimate is converted to an auroral activity index that ranges from 1 to 10.
Credits:
Space Weather Images and Information (excluded from copyright) courtesy of: NOAA / NWS Space Weather Prediction Center, Mauna Loa Solar Observatory (HAO/NCAR), and SOHO (ESA & NASA).Space Weather links:
3-Day Forecast of Solar and Geophysical Activity
Space Weather Now
Real-Time Solar Wind
Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO)
The Very Latest SOHO Images