SMALL ASTEROID BUZZES EARTH: Newly-discovered asteroid 2012 KT42 is flying past Earth today (May 29th) only ~14,000 km above the planet's surface. This means 2012 KT42 will actually fly inside the Clark Belt of geosynchronous satellites. The 3- to 10-meter wide asteroid ranks # 6 on the top 20 list of closest-approachers to Earth. According to the asteroid's orbit, there is no danger of a collision. Even if it did hit, this space rock is too small to cause significant damage. It would likely disintegrate almost entirely in the atmosphere, peppering the ground below with relatively small meteorites. Flyby images: #1, #2.
Solar wind
speed: 415.5 km/sec
density: 4.9 protons/cm3
explanation | more data
Updated: Today at 1644 UT
X-ray Solar Flares
6-hr max: B3 1132 UT May29
24-hr: B3 1132 UT May29
explanation | more data
Updated: Today at: 1600 UT
Daily Sun: 29 May 12
Sunspot 1492 poses a continued threat for C-class flares. Credit: SDO/HMI
Sunspot number: 87
What is the sunspot number?
Updated 28 May 2012
Spotless Days
Current Stretch: 0 days
2012 total: 0 days (0%)
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 28 May 2012
The Radio Sun
10.7 cm flux: 110 sfu
explanation | more data
Updated 28 May 2012
Current Auroral Oval:
Switch to: Europe, USA, New Zealand, Antarctica
Credit: NOAA/POES
Planetary K-index
Now: Kp= 2 quiet
24-hr max: Kp= 3 quiet
explanation | more data
Interplanetary Mag. Field
Btotal: 8.2 nT
Bz: 5.5 nT north
explanation | more data
Updated: Today at 1646 UT
Coronal Holes: 29 May 12
A solar wind stream flowing from this coronal hole should blow just north of Earth on ~May 31-June 1. Credit: SDO/AIA.
