~Space Weather Update~ 4 growing Sunspots~ C and M Class

SUNSPOT GENESIS: The solar disk is peppered with sunspots and at least three of them are crackling with C-class solar flares. Make that four. A new sunspot, AR1465, has just broken through the stellar surface to join the action. Cai-Uso Wohler photographed the emergence from his backyard observatory in Bispingen, Germany:

NOAA forecasters estimate a 30% chance of an M-class flare during the next 24 hours. As the youngest and least stable of the sunspots, AR1465 is the most likely source. Stay tuned for solar activity. Solar flare alerts: text, voice.

more images: from the Charlie Bates Solar Astronomy Project of Washington, DC; from Jim Werle of Henderson, Nevada; from Alan Friedman of Buffalo, NY; from Jett Aguilar of Quezon City, Philippines

INCOMING PLASMA CLOUDS: On April 18th and 19th, a series of minor CMEs puffed away from the sun. Three of them are heading in our general direction. Analysts at the Goddard Space Weather Lab have prepared an animated forecast track of the ensemble:

According to the forecast, the clouds are going to hit Mercury, Earth, Mars and rover Curiosity en route to Mars. The impact on our planet, on April 22nd around 00:50 UT, is expected to be minor with auroras likely only at higher latitudes. Aurora alerts: text, voice.

Switch to: Europe, USA, New Zealand, Antarctica
Credit: NOAA/POES

Planetary K-index
Now: Kp= 1 quiet
24-hr max: Kp= 2 quiet
explanation | more data

Interplanetary Mag. Field
B_total: 8.2 nT
B_z: 2.5 nT north
explanation | more data
Updated: Today at 1635 UT

Coronal Holes: 21 Apr 12

There are no large coronal holes on the Earthside of the sun. Credit: SDO/AIA.