~Space Weather Update~ 12~1~11~ QUIET SUN FILLED WITH ACTIVITY~
AROUND THE POLES: NOAA forecasters estimate a 25% chance of geomagnetic activity around the poles today as a solar wind stream buffets Earth's magnetic field. High-latitude sky watchers should be alert for auroras after nightfall. Aurora alerts: text, phone.
SOLAR ACTIVITY: With no sunspots producing strong flares, the sun is officially quiet. But flares are only one aspect of solar activity. For example, amateur astronomers are monitoring a plume of hot plasma rising over the sun's eastern limb:
"The sun is filled with activity," says Greg Piepol of the Rising Sun Observatory in Rockville, Maryland. "Huge prominences, active regions and sunspots make for an absolutely beautiful view."
Theo Ramakers of Social Circle, Georgia, agrees: "When I saw the sun this morning I could not believe my eyes. The prominence on the eastern limb was absolutely breathtaking at about 7 times the size of earth! Great to see the sun is still very active."
Readers with solar telescopes are encouraged to monitor the "quiet sun.".
more images: from John Stetson of Falmouth, Maine; from John Chumack of Dayton, Ohio; from Dave Jenkins of Tundu, Wales; from Pepe Manteca of Begues (Barcelona) Spain; from Wayne Wooten of Pensacola, Florida
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Solar wind
speed: 460.3 km/sec
density: 0.5 protons/cm3
explanation | more data
Updated: Today at 1445 UT
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X-ray Solar Flares
6-hr max: C1 1046 UT Dec01
24-hr: C1 0236 UT Dec01
explanation | more data
Updated: Today at: 1400 UT
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Daily Sun: 01 Dec 11
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Solar activity is low with a slight chance for M-class solar flares. Credit: SDO/HMI
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Sunspot number: 111
What is the sunspot number?
Updated 30 Nov 2011
Spotless Days
Current Stretch: 0 days
2011 total: 2 days (<1%)
2010 total: 51 days (14%)
2009 total: 260 days (71%)
Since 2004: 821 days
Typical Solar Min: 486 days
Updated 30 Nov 2011
The Radio Sun
10.7 cm flux: 144 sfu
explanation | more data
Updated 30 Nov 2011
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Current Auroral Oval:
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Switch to: Europe, USA, New Zealand, Antarctica
Credit: NOAA/POES
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Planetary K-index
Now: Kp= 1 quiet
24-hr max: Kp= 3 quiet
explanation | more data
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Interplanetary Mag. Field
Btotal: 3.0 nT
Bz: 1.3 nT north
explanation | more data
Updated: Today at 1448 UT
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Coronal Holes: 01 Dec 11
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Earth is inside a solar wind stream flowing from the indicated coronal hole. Credit: SDO/AIA.
