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.

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[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

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[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. (...)

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[Stavros Kiri]

STRONG GEOMAGNETIC STORM: A strong geomagnetic storm is in progress on New Year's Day. Auroras have been sighted as far south as Arizona in the USA and Italy in Europe. Sparked by the impact of a CME on Dec. 31st, the storm is set to persist and might even intensify in the hours ahead.

Above: A midnight outburst of auroras on Jan. 1, 2025. Photo credit: Fred Hirschmann of Glacier View, Alaska

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[Stavros Kiri]

Happy New Year!
Recent solar news with the new year, 2025:

1.
Space Weather News for Jan. 2, 2025

NOT ALL THOSE AURORAS WERE AURORAS: Yesterday's (Jan. 1st) severe geomagnetic storm produced widespread Northern Lights as far south as Mexico. However, not all the lights in the sky were auroras. Many observers photographed red arcs from a completely difference process.

Above: The red arc in this photo from the West Elk Mountains of Colorado is an "SAR arc." It looks like an aurora, but it is not. Photo credit: Aaron Watson.

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2.
Space Weather News for Jan. 4, 2025

THE SUN IS X-FLARING: Don't be surprised if there's a strong solar flare today. The sun has already produced three intense X-flares this weekend and shows no sign of slowing down. So far the effects have been limited to shortwave radio blackouts, but CMEs and geomagnetic storms could be in the offing as the underlying sunspot turns toward Earth.

Above: Active sunspot AR3947 is crackling with X-class solar flares.

Stay tuned.

 

[Stavros Kiri]

A BRIGHT COMET IS FALLING TOWARD THE SUN: Comet ATLAS (C/2024 G3) is falling toward the sun for a close encounter on Jan. 13th. If it survives the heat, it could become brighter than the planet Venus for a great photo-op in the evening sky. Southern hemisphere observers are favored, but some northerners will be able to see it, too.

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​ Above: Comet ATLAS (C/2024 G3) falling toward the sun. Photo credit: Lionel Majzik

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P.S. Perhaps someone might be interested (if it's a good idea) to do a separate thread for that (e.g. for photos etc.). E.g. (?) @collinsmark , @Ibix , @OmCheeto , @Tom.G , @davenn , @DennisN , @Andy Resnick , @pinball1970 , @berkeman , @Astranut , @Drakkith etc., or other ... (?). Or we can all perhaps post in "Our Beatiful Universe – Photos and Videos" thread (e.g. for photos of the comet as time goes by etc.) ... (?).

 

[Stavros Kiri]

[Th. Jan. 9, 2025 & > ...]

MARS IS ABOUT TO VANISH: When the sun goes down tonight, step outside and look up. An alignment of the brightest planets is underway in the evening sky. On Monday, Jan. 13th, Mars will vanish from the group during a must-see lunar occultation visible throughout North America.

Above: A similar lunar occultation of Mars on Dec. 7, 2022, photographed by Matthew Melnyk in Calgary, Alberta.

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[Stavros Kiri]

(for Sat. Jan. 11)
SUNGRAZING COMET AT DAWN: Comet ATLAS (C/2024 G3) is brightening dramatically as it falls toward the sun for a close encounter on Monday [Jan 13]. Today [Sat. Jan 11], many astronomers saw the comet at dawn and one even photographed it in broad daylight.

Above: Comet ATLAS at sunrise over Slovakia on Jan. 11, 2025. Credit: Petr Horálek, who also saw the comet with his naked eyes.

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[Stavros Kiri]

SUNSET COMET ALERT: Comet ATLAS (C/2024 G3) survived yesterday's close encounter with the sun, and now it is emerging into the sunset sky bright and intact. Amateur astronomers are photographing the comet in some cases less than 10 minutes after sunset.

Above: Comet ATLAS at sunset on Jan. 14, 2025. Credit: Erik Norlund of Alberone di Cento, Italy.

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