~Space Weather Update~ 12~1~11~ QUIET SUN FILLED WITH ACTIVITY~ [1]

~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 [2], phone [3].

SOLAR ACTIVITY: With no sunspots producing strong flares, the sun is officially quiet [4]. 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:

[5]

"The sun is filled with activity," says Greg Piepol of the Rising Sun Observatory [6] 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 [7] are encouraged to monitor the "quiet sun.".

more images: from John Stetson [8] of Falmouth, Maine; from John Chumack [9] of Dayton, Ohio; from Dave Jenkins [10] of Tundu, Wales; from Pepe Manteca [11] of Begues (Barcelona) Spain; from Wayne Wooten [12] of Pensacola, Florida

Solar wind
speed: 460.3 km/sec
density: 0.5 protons/cm³
explanation [13] | more data [14]
Updated: Today at 1445 UT

X-ray Solar Flares
6-hr max: C1 1046 UT Dec01
24-hr: C1 0236 UT Dec01
explanation [15] | more data [16]
Updated: Today at: 1400 UT

Daily Sun: 01 Dec 11

[17]

Solar activity is low with a slight chance for M-class [15] solar flares. Credit: SDO/HMI

Sunspot number: 111
What is the sunspot number? [18]
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 [19] | more data [20]
Updated 30 Nov 2011

Current Auroral Oval:

[21]

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

Planetary K-index
Now: Kp= 1 quiet
24-hr max: Kp= 3 quiet
explanation [22] | more data [23]

Interplanetary Mag. Field
B_total: 3.0 nT
B_z: 1.3 nT north
explanation [24] | more data [25]
Updated: Today at 1448 UT

Coronal Holes: 01 Dec 11

[26]

Earth is inside a solar wind stream flowing from the indicated coronal hole. Credit: SDO/AIA.