Solar Activity and Space Weather Update thread

[Stavros Kiri]

AN X-CLASS DOUBLE SOLAR FLARE: Solar activity remains high with an X-class double solar flare on Oct. 26th. The explosion hurled an impressive CME into space, and it appears to have an Earth-directed component. Several big sunspots are turning toward Earth, so this could be the beginning of a week of stormy space weather.

Above: An M9.5-X1.8 class double flare on Oct. 26th. Extreme ultraviolet movie from NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory.

--------

 

[Stavros Kiri]

The Sun Just SWALLOWED A COMET: Today (Mon Oct. 28, 2024), Comet ATLAS (C/2024 S1) fell into the sun and did not survive. Using a coronagraph to create an artificial eclipse, the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) recorded the comet's final moments.

Above: One frame from a movie of Comet ATLAS disintegrating on Oct. 28, 2024. Credit: SOHO/LASCO

...

 

[Stavros Kiri]

STRONG GEOMAGNETIC STORM PREDICTED: Two CMEs are heading for Earth, due to arrive on Dec. 31-Jan. 1. The one-two punch to Earth's magnetic field could spark a strong G3-class geomagnetic storm with mid-latitude auroras in the USA and Europe.

Above: A NOAA forecast model shows two CMEs heading for Earth. (...)

.