Space Weather Observations, Alerts, and Forecast

Real Time Images of the Sun

SOHO EIT 304
Click for time-lapse image of the sun
SOHO EIT 284 Animated
SOHO EIT 284 image of the sun
LASCO/C2
Latest Mauna Loa image of the Sun

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.

Daily 24 Hour Solar Activity Summary
Issued: 2024 Mar 19 0030 UTC

Solar activity reached high levels (R2-Moderate) with a few M-class flares observed during the period. The strongest event of the period was an impulsive M6.7 flare observed at 18/1919 UTC from new Region 3615 (S12E62, Eao/beta-gamma). Since being numbered, this region has contributed numerous C-class flares as well. Region 3612 (N22, L=014) produced an M2.7 flare at 18/0332 UTC as it rotated around the NW limb. Shortly after, an additional M1.0 flare was observed from Region 3614 (N16E56, Dai/beta) at 18/0414 UTC. Emerging flux was noted to the SW of Region 3608 (N10W24, Bxo/beta) and was numbered 3616 (N02W31, Dai/beta). Since its emergence, this region has grown rapidly over the period. Between about 18/0200-0315 UTC, an 11 degree long filament erupted that was centered near N13W32. At this time, no discernable CME was observed in SOHO/LASCO imagery. No other Earth-directed CMEs were observed in available coronagraph imagery.

Solar Activity Forecast
Issued: 2024 Mar 19 0030 UTC

Solar activity is expected to be low over 19-21 Mar, with a chance for M-class flares (R1-R2/Minor-Moderate). Energetic

Real Time Solar X-ray and Solar Wind


Solar Cycle Progression
Graph showing current solar cycle progression
Solar Cycle chart updated using the latest ISES predictions.
Real-Time Solar Wind
Graph showing 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
Graph showing Real-Time 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
Graph showing Real-Time 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
Current Northern hemispheric power input map
Southern Hemi Auroral Map
Current Southern hemispheric power input 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


Google