SolarHam News (June 2022)

Geomagnetic Storm Warning

June 25, 2022 @ 22:35 UTC (UPDATED)

The Bz component of the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) carried past Earth via the solar wind has been pointing south today. A minor (G1) geomagnetic storm watch is now in effect until 09:00 UTC (Jun 26). UPDATE: The minor (G1) storm threshold was reached at 23:42 UTC (Jun 25). ALERT: Geomagnetic K-index of 5 Threshold Reached: 2022 Jun 25 2342 UTC Synoptic Period: 2100-2400 UTC Active Warning: Yes NOAA Scale: G1 - Minor

Solar Update

June 24, 2022 @ 12:55 UTC

Hi again folks. Imagery courtesy of the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) is still unavailable, so below is an updated look at the visible disk courtesy of the Teide Observatory located in the Canary Islands (Tenerife). Solar activity during the past 24 hours remained at low levels with only minor C-Flares detected. The main flare threat, AR 3038, continues to move closer towards the northwest limb. All other regions are currently stable. Stay tuned to SolarHam.com for the latest space weather news and information.

SDO Imagery Outage

June 22, 2022 @ 22:00 UTC

Updated solar imagery courtesy of the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) is currently unavailable due to a widespread power outage. Hopefully this will be resolved soon. "HMI and AIA data are temporarily unavailable. A widespread power outage has closed the Stanford campus that hosts the SDO Data Center." SDO Website

Solar Update

June 21, 2022 @ 19:45 UTC

Solar activity during the past 24 hours remained at low levels. Only minor C-Flares were detected around various regions including Earth facing AR 3038 and AR 3031, now located behind the SW limb. An isolated moderate M-Flare will remain possible during the next 24 hours. A series of relatively small coronal holes will begin to face Earth over the next several days. An elevated solar wind stream is expected to reach Earth beginning June 23rd and could contribute to minor geomagnetic enhancements at higher latitudes. Image below courtesy of SDO/AIA.

AR 3038 Grows

June 19, 2022 @ 19:45 UTC

Good afternoon. AR 3038 has doubled in size since yesterday as it moves into a direct Earth facing position. So far the region has only managed minor C-Class solar flares. This region will be monitored for further development and could be an increased threat for a moderate M-Flare. Image by SDO/HMI.

Solar Update

June 18, 2022 @ 13:30 UTC

Good morning. Below is a look at the visible disk on Saturday (June 18). Solar activity during the past 24 hours remained at low levels with only minor C-Flares detected. There are currently 9 numbered sunspot regions visible. Of these, AR 3030, 3031 and 3037 will be the most likely threat for an isolated moderate M-Flare. Image courtesy of SDO/HMI.

3031 Grows / Minor Storm Watch

June 14, 2022 @ 19:35 UTC

Good afternoon. Below is an updated look at the southwest quadrant of the Sun showing sunspot regions 3031, 3036 and perhaps a new region in formation. AR 3031 increased in both size and magnetic complexity on Tuesday and has been producing low to upper level C-Class solar flares. The region will be a threat for an isolated moderate M-Flare in the short term. The 6 other numbered regions have been fairly stable as of this update. Expect the solar flux index (SFI) to climb above 140 today. In other news, a minor (G1) geomagnetic storm watch will be in effect for the next 24-48 hours. This is due to the possible combined effects of an expected coronal hole stream, along with a bright CME observed on Monday predicted to pass near Earth.

Long Duration Eruption + CME

June 13, 2022 @ 09:40 UTC (UPDATED)

A long duration eruption (LDE) measuring M3.4 was detected around AR 3030 and newly assigned AR 3032 beginning at approximately 03:00 UTC (Jun 13). The event generated a noteworthy coronal mass ejection (CME) that appears to be headed mostly to the east and away from Earth. More details on this later today. CME Update: The updated CME tracking courtesy of NOAA/SWPC suggests that a glancing blow to our geomagnetic field may be possible by June 15th. While the majority of the plasma is indeed heading away from Earth, the edge of the cloud could still pass close to our planet. Minor geomagnetic enhancements could be possible in the days ahead.

Solar Update

June 12, 2022 @ 23:35 UTC

Hello again. Below is an updated look at the sunspots currently visible across the Earth facing solar disk. A few new regions are turning into view and should be assigned numbers during the next 24 hours. Solar activity on Sunday was at low levels with only minor C-Flares detected. There will remain a lower threat for an isolated moderate M-Flare. Image by SDO/HMI.

Flare Threat / AR 3030

June 10, 2022 @ 10:40 UTC

Good morning. Newly assigned sunspot region 3030 appears to be a threat for moderate solar flares as the GOES-16 X-Ray Flux is approaching the M1 threshold. Perhaps this weekend could get interesting. Stay tuned to find out. Image by SDO/AIA using the 94 angstroms channel.

Solar Update

June 9, 2022 @ 22:50 UTC

The solar X-Rays have crept above the C1 threshold on Thursday evening thanks to an active region turning into view from off the northeast limb. We will get a better look during the next 24 hours. Elsewhere, newly reformed AR 3029 has been for the most part stable. Imagery below courtesy of SDO/AIA/HMI.

Solar Update

June 8, 2022 @ 23:35 UTC

The sunspot number count for June 8th will likely be 0, however rapid spot emergence was observed during the past several hours in the circled location. Solar activity should remain at lower levels in the short term. Image below by SDO/HMI.

All Quiet

June 7, 2022 @ 19:30 UTC

The visible disk is nearly spotless today. Solar activity could remain at very low levels during the next 24 hours while we await some new sunspots to emerge. A couple of potential regions are hiding behind the east limb and will begin to turn into view during the next few days. The last time the visible disk was officially spotless was December 2021. Image below courtesy of SDO/HMI.

Shock Passage Detected

June 6, 2022 @ 09:50 UTC (UPDATED)

What appears to be a minor shock passage was just detected by the DSCOVR spacecraft. The Bz component of the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) is tipped south at the moment and this could boost geomagnetic activity once it arrives past Earth within the hour. UPDATE @ 19:35 UTC: As of this update, only unsettled (Kp3) geomagnetic conditions have been observed following a fairly weak CME passage. Enhanced activity could continue during the next 12 hours should the Bz component of the IMF shift south. WARNING: Geomagnetic Sudden Impulse expected Valid From: 2022 Jun 06 1030 UTC Valid To: 2022 Jun 06 1100 UTC IP Shock Passage Observed: 2022 Jun 06 0919 UTC

Solar Cycle Continues To Heat Up

June 2, 2022 @ 02:10 UTC

Hello again and welcome to June. The numbers are in for the month of May and once again they continued to trend upwards. Solar Cycle 25 continues to exceed the forecast and gives us hope for a much more active Sun as compared to the previous Cycle 24. Click on the image below for details. We will see how June 2022 turns out. Stay tuned!