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Observations

Space Based Imaging

More data: SWAP, EUI

Ground Based Imaging

More: H-α, WL, Ca-IIK, Drawings

Ground Based Radio

More: ARCAS+HSRS, CALLISTO

Space Based Timelines

More data: LYRA, TSI

WDC Sunspot Index

More data: SILSO

Space Weather Services

Detections

Solar Map

Latest Alerts

Presto 2024-05-03

An X1.6 flare has occurred with a peak time 02:22 UTC on May 03. The flare was produced by NOAA AR 3663. Type IV radio emission was detected at 02:19 during the flaring activity. Currently no increase is observed in the GOES proton flux.

Flaremail 2024-05-03

A class X1.6 solar X-ray flare occurred on 2024/05/03 with peak time 02:22UT

CACTus Halo 2024-05-01

A halo or partial-halo CME was detected with the following characteristics: t0 | dt0| pa | da | v | dv | minv| maxv| 2024-05-01T06:36:09.642 | 2.0 | 241 | 160 | 577 | 82 | 394 | 760 t0: onset time, earliest indication of liftoff dt0: duration of liftoff (hours) pa: principal angle, counterclockwise from North (degrees) da: angular width of the CME (degrees), v: median velocity (km/s) dv: variation (1 sigma) of velocity over the width of the CME mindv: lowest velocity detected within the CME maxdv: highest velocity detected within the CME

Forecasts

  • Flare: M-class flares
    (≥50%)
  • Protons: Quiet
  • Geomagnetic: Quiet
    (A<20 and K<4)
  • All quiet: False
  • Provisional SSN: 148

Solar Activity

URSIgram 2024-05-03

Solar flaring activity over the past 24 hours was at high levels. The largest flare was a X1.7-flare, with peak time 02:22 UTC on May 03 associated with NOAA AR 3663 (beta-gamma-delta). There are currently 6 numbered active regions on the visible disk. NOAA AR 3663 (beta-gamma-delta) and NOAA AR 3664 (beta-gamma-delta) are the most magnetically complex regions on disk and produced most of the flaring activity in the last 24 hours. A new yet unnumbered active region has started to emerge on the north-east quadrant of the visible solar disk. All other regions were inactive and stable. The solar flaring activity is likely to be at moderate levels over the coming days with C-class flares expected and M-class flares probable and small chance for an isolated X-class flare. A Coronal Mass Ejection (CME), was seen at 12:01 UTC on May 02, in LASCO C2 data. This CME is associated with NOAA AR 3654. Further analysis is ongoing. Another CME, was seen at 03:01 UTC on May 03. This CME is associated with NOAA AR 3663 and the X1.7-flare, with peak time 02:22 UTC on May 03. No impact at Earth is expected from this CME. An equatorial positive polarity coronal hole is crossing the central meridian. A high-speed stream from this coronal hole may impact the Earth on May 08. Over the past 24 hours the greater than 10 MeV GOES proton flux was at background levels and is expected to remain so over the next days. The greater than 2 MeV electron flux measured by GOES 16 and GOES 18 was below the 1000 pfu threshold and is expected to remain so in the upcoming days. The 24h electron fluence was at nominal level and is expected to remain so in the next days.

Solar Wind

URSIgram 2024-05-03

Geomagnetic conditions have reached moderate storm levels globally and locally (Kp 6 + and K_Bel 6+) between 15:00 UT and 21:00 UT on May 02. Geomagnetic conditions then remained at active levels until 04:00 UT on May 02 after which they reduced to quiet to unsettled levels. Quiet to unsettled conditions are expected in the next 24 hours. In the last 24 hours, the Earth came under the influence of an ICME. A shock was detected in the solar wind data around 13:15 UTC on May 02. The interplanetary magnetic field jumped from 10 nT to 19 nT and further increased to 22nT, with Bz reaching minimum value of -18 nT; The solar wind speed jumped from 360 km/s to 410 km/s and the solar wind density increased from 5/cm3 to 11/cm3 at the shock. The shock is related to an ICME arrival probably related to a Coronal Mass Ejection, that was detected at 12:36 UTC on April 29, in LASCO C2 data. Around 01:50 UTC on May 03 the solar wind increased again from 445 km/s to 511 km/s, the solar wind density decreased from 12/cm3 to 3.4/cm3 and the interplanetary magnetic field decreased from 11 nT to 4 nT. The phi-angle was mainly in the positive sector (directed away from the Sun) until 02:42 UTC on May 03 when it switched to the negative sector. We may be seeing the influence of a high-speed stream from a positive polarity coronal hole. Slow solar wind conditions are expected in the next 24 hours.

Research

News

X-class flare!

Active region NOAA 3663 produced an X1.6 flare early on 3 May. Further M-class flaring can be expected from this sunspot group, with a chance on another X-class flare.

Spot the moss, spicules, and coronal rain

The EUI instrument onboard Solar Orbiter observed the solar corona in exquisite detail once more.

Intense geomagnetic storms during SC25

An overview of the more potent geomagnetic storms that have occurred so far this solar cycle (SC25).
 

Activities

Ground Observations

The SIDC monitors the level of solar activity from the photosphere to the corona with ground based instruments located in Uccle and Humain.

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Space Instruments

To avoid the disturbing or blocking effect of the Earth atmosphere, EUV observations of the solar corona need to be made from space...

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Space Weather & Climate

We monitor and forecast solar variability to provide information services  to society and industry about the influence of space weather and climate.

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Data Processing & Distribution

Data processing is necessary to extract relevant information for research studies, whereas data distribution and visualization are part of ROB open data policy.

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Modeling

Modelling of Solar phenomena allows scientists to test theories and to predict Space Weather phenomena and their impact on Earth.

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Supporting Research

The SIDC shares and expands its expertise through interaction with both upcoming and experienced researchers.

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