Wednesday, May 09, 2012

latest solar solar storm flare news may 9 2012

U
M4.7 Solar Flare
Large Sunspot 1476 awoke this morning and produced a moderate M4.7 Solar Flare at 12:32 UTC. Video and images are now listed below. There is now a growing threat for an X-Class event. Stay Tuned to SolarHam.com for the latest information.

Solar Flare Update: Moderate Solar activity continued on Wednesday afternoon around monster Sunspot group 1476. This region is now responsible for several M-Class events including an M4.7 and M4.1.

Northern Exposure
In between all of the Solar Flares, Zoltan Kenwell in Alberta, Canada captured this nice Aurora image during last nights geomagnetic disturbance. The solar wind combined with a south tilting Bz helped trigger this event. Thank You Zoltan for the great image.

Solar activity is currently moderate with two M-Class flares within the past 24 hours. The largest of these events was an M4.7 at 12:32 UTC Wednesday morning around Sunspot 1476. This region has a Beta-Gamma-Delta magnetic configuration and could produce an X-Class event. New Sunspot 1477 rotated into view off the southeast limb. This looks to be the return of old Sunspot 1462. Elsewhere, all other regions are currently quiet.

Updated May 09 2200 UTC

Joint USAF/NOAA Report of Solar and Geophysical Activity
SDF Number 130 Issued at 2200Z on 09 May 2012

IA.  Analysis of Solar Active Regions and Activity from  08/2100Z
to 09/2100Z:  Solar activity has been at moderate levels for the past
24 hours.  Region 1476 (N10E22) continues to be the most complex and
most active spot region on the visible disk.  It produced an M4/1n
x-ray flare at 09/1232Z, and an M1/1b x-ray flare at 09/1408Z.  This
spot region continues to grow in area, reaching 1050 Millionths and
remains a Fkc/beta-gamma-delta configuration.

IB.  Solar Activity Forecast:  Solar activity is expected to be at
low to moderate levels for the next three days (10-12 May).

IIA.  Geophysical Activity Summary 08/2100Z to 09/2100Z:
The geomagnetic field has been at unsettled to active levels for the
past 24 hours.

IIB.  Geophysical Activity Forecast:  The geomagnetic field is
expected to be unsettled to active with a slight chance for minor
storming on day one (10 May) due to increased wind speeds associated
with the Coronal Hole High Speed Stream (CH HSS).  Days two and
three (11-12 May) are expected to be at quiet to unsettled levels as
the effects of the CH HSS begin to wane.