Special Edition IRIS First Light HD

 

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As the telescope door opened on July 17, 2013, IRIS’s single instrument began to observe the sun in exceptional detail. IRIS’s first images showed a multitude of thin, fibril-like structures that have never been seen before, revealing enormous contrasts in density and temperature occur throughout this region even between neighboring loops that are only a few hundred miles apart. The images also show spots that rapidly brighten and dim, which provide clues to how energy is transported and absorbed throughout the region.

 

19 07 2013 Geomagnetic Storm HD

  
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A faint CME from July 16th is delivering a glancing blow to our geomagnetic field late on July 18th/19. This in itself is not expected to cause storming, however when you factor in the coronal hole solar wind stream expected to arrive at nearly the same time, this could help generate minor geomagnetic storming at high latitudes.
The solar wind carries with it the magnetic field of the Sun. This magnetic field or the IMF (interplanetary magnetic field) has a particular orientation - southward or northward. If the IMF of the solar wind is southward and the solar wind crosses the Earth for long periods of time, geomagnetic storms can be expected.

The southward IMF causes magnetic and particle energy to be injected into the Earth's magnetosphere creating storms.

10 07 2013 CME IMPACT -- GEOMAGNETIC STORM HD

   

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A Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) swept past Earth on Tuesday afternoon. The ACE Spacecraft detected an interplanetary shock at 19:58 UTC. A geomagnetic sudden impulse measuring 25nT was detected at 20:49 UTC. This signaled the passage of the IP shock past our planet. The initial impact was weak, however a south tilting solar wind / Bz component aided in raising geomagnetic activity.

Interplanetary Mag. Field

Btotal: 10.7 nT

Bz: 9.4 nT south

Planetary K-index

Now: Kp= 3 quiet

24-hr max: Kp= 5 storm

Bz South: The Bz component of the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) tipped south (-10 nT) for a long duration. A minor G1 Level Geomagnetic Storm resulted at high latitudes.

Despite its unstable magnetic field, big sunspot AR1785 has resisted exploding.

Sunspot

Despite its unstable magnetic field, big sunspot AR1785 has resisted exploding.

1785 has Beta-Gamma-Delta configuration

Both Sunspots 1785 and 1787 will remain the regions of focus today, with 1785 being the biggest threat for a moderate solar flare (NOAA estimates 55% probability).

Due to return within the next couple of days

1775 S26 

Aurora over Alberta, Canada - Mike Isaak

ALERT: Geomagnetic K-index of 5

Threshold Reached: 2013 Jul 10 0257 UTC

Synoptic Period: 0000-0300 UTC

Active Warning: Yes

NOAA Scale: G1 - Minor

Potential Impacts: Area of impact primarily poleward of 60 degrees Geomagnetic Latitude.

Induced Currents - Weak power grid fluctuations can occur.

Spacecraft - Minor impact on satellite operations possible.

Aurora - Aurora may be visible at high latitudes, i.e., northern tier of the U.S. such as northern Michigan and Maine.

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M2.9 Class Solar Flare Geomagnetic Storm HD

  

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Solar activity has been moderate with most activity detected around Sunspot 1778. This region is showing signs of growth and was responsible for an impulse M2.9 flare June 21st and again June 23 at 20:56 UTC Sunday evening and a C9.9 flare this morning at 11:32 UTC. All other regions remain fairly stable. Sunspot 1773 decayed to a spotless plage. Sunspots 1772 and 1776 continue to make their way towards the west limb. There will remain a chance for C-Class flares and perhaps another isolated M-Class event.

You can also visit me on my facebook at https://www.facebook.com/trudi.t.kay

Have a good day and thank you for watching.

06 06 2013 The Best Solar Magnetic Tornado Observed HD

  
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This is one of the best solar tornadoes I have observed. SDO/NASA captured at various infrared 304 Ångstrom. 171- 193 et al beginning June 3 to present June 6^th 2013.

It is earth directed so whatever shock wave it will produce it is highly possible we will get a glancing blow around the 8^th of June.

The auroras created from the shockwave should be beautiful as well as any possible sounds that are produced as the shockwave interacts with our geomagnetosphere causing a geomagnetic storm..

You all have a good week and weekend ahead and hope you catch some good aurora viewing.

A Special Presentation Geomagnetic/Radioactive Storms - 06 03 2013 HD

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On June 2nd at a high-speed (700 km/s) solar wind stream buffets Earth's magnetic field. The warning comes on the heels of a lengthy G2-class geomagnetic storm on May 31- and again June 1 sparked by the arrival of an interplanetary shock wave. The source of the shock is unknown. Although I do suspect it is from the coronal holes themselves. Current speculation focuses on a corotating interaction region (CIR)--that is, a shock-like transition zone between high- and low-speed solar wind streams. Whatever it was, the impact ignited some beautiful auroras,

June 1st, Northern Lights spilled across the Canadian border into more than a dozen US states, turning the sky purple and green as far south as Colorado and Nebraska. Subscribers to the Space Weather Alert System knew the storm was coming, but others were surprised:

Aurora Over Crater Lake National Park, OR

Taken by Brad Goldpaint on June 1, 2013 @ Crater Lake National Park, OR

Aurora

Taken by Robert Farrimond on May 31, 2013 @ Vantage, Washington

As solar maximum nears its peak we are anticipating whatever our heightened imagination can visualize.

Here is a little preview of the magnetic storm, solar flares at immense speed racing towards earth we can expect.

In which this event actually happened not too long ago last year in March 2012 with a CME at class M.8 (Understanding the Geomagnetic Storm)

more:  May/June 2013 Geomagnetic Storm Flareup