Sol (Sun) and its phenomena

Solar activity is ramping up, following a stream of solar winds from a huge coronal hole, a new active region is flaring since yesterday :

EARTH-DIRECTED SOLAR FLARES: Fast-growing sunspot 3981 is directly facing Earth and crackling with strong solar flares. An M8.8-class explosion on Feb 3rd (0358 UT) was only percentage points below category X. We are waiting for fresh data from SOHO coronagraphs to see if any CMEs are heading our way as a result of these flares.

20250203.PNG

Eye candy :

COMET ATLAS AND THE SOUTHERN LIGHTS: Over the weekend, a solar wind stream buffeted Earth's magnetic field, sparking auroras in the southern hemisphere. Mike White photographed Comet ATLAS (C/2024 G3) gliding through the light show over Twizel, New Zealand:​


And someone think he discovered something strange falling on the sun in LASCO coronagraph's pictures. The animated GIF provided by another member indeed show a small black dot with a short tail impacting the sun.

Here's the thread from spaceweatherlive community forum :

Something huge fell on the Sun today


Posted Saturday at 07:33 PM


I just wanna share with all of you my current observation.
Something huge fell on the Sun today, I saw it on the LASCO C2 (screenshot).
Please notice how this thing, falling into the solar corona, cuts the solar wind! Awsome!
I recommend to check LASCO C2 movie between 09:36 UTC and 12:12 UTC.
There is also a flare and CME when it impacts the Sun, but that is most certainly a coincidence.

1738569231066.jpeg


right here


ezgif.com-optimize.gif.6f35d0ca2b4e4f9bff7507c2ac2e3054.gif
 
Stealthy Storms & Fast Wind in Time for Valentines | Space Weather Spotlight 13 February 2025
Feb 12, 2025
Tabatha includes the following links below
Solar Imaging and Analysis:
SDO: http://sdo.gsfc.nasa.gov/data/
Helioviewer: http://www.helioviewer.org/
Flare Analysis: http://www.lmsal.com/solarsoft/latest...
Computer Aided CME Tracking CACTUS: http://www.sidc.oma.be/cactus/out/lat...
GOES Xray: http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/rt_plots/xra...
SOHO: http://sohodata.nascom.nasa.gov/
Stereo: http://stereo.gsfc.nasa.gov/
GONG magnetic field synoptic movie: https://gong.nso.edu/data/magmap/stan...
GONG magnetic field synoptic charts: http://gong.nso.edu/data/magmap/
LMSAL Heliophysics Events HEK http://www.lmsal.com/isolsearch

Solar Wind:
DISCOVR solar wind: http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/products/rea...
ACE Solar Wind: http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/products/ace...
NASA/CCMC/M2M Enlil Solar Storm Prediction Model: https://iswa.gsfc.nasa.gov/IswaSystem...
NOAA/SWPC Enlil Solar Storm Prediction Model: http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/products/wsa...

Magnetosphere, Ionosphere, Atmosphere:
GOES Magnetometer: http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/products/goe...
Ionosphere D-Region Absorption (DRAP) model: http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/products/d-r...
Radio Propagation: https://www.tvcomm.co.uk/g7izu/atlant...
Near-Earth radiation environment: https://spaceweather.gfz-potsdam.de/p...
Auroral Oval Ovation Products: http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/products/aur...
Global 3-hr Kp index: http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/products/pla...
GEOCHRON Weather Display: www.geochron.com
USGS Ground Magnetometers: http://geomag.usgs.gov/realtime/

Multi-Purpose Space Environment Sites:
NOAA/SWPC: http://www.swpc.noaa.gov
SOLARHAM: http://www.solarham.net/index.htm
Spaceweather: http://spaceweather.com
iSWA: http://iswa.gsfc.nasa.gov/iswa/iSWA.html

Definition of Geomagnetic Storm, Radiation Storm, and Radio Blackout Levels:
http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/NOAAscales/

None of this would be possible without the hard work and dedication of those who have provided all of this data for public use.
Images c/o NASA/NOAA/ESA/CSA (most notably the superb SDO, SOHO, ACE, DSCOVR, STEREO, CCMC, M2M, JPL & DSN teams, amazing professionals, hobbyists, institutions, organizations, agencies and amateurs such as those at the USAF/HAARP, NICT, NOAA, USGS, Environment Canada, Natural Resources Canada, Intellicast, Catatania, rice.edu, wisc.edu, sonoma.edu ucalgary.ca, rssi.ru, ohio-state.edu, solen.info, and so much more. Thanks for making Space Weather part of our every day dialogue.


MINOR GEOMAGNETIC STORM WATCH: Another solar wind stream is heading for Earth. It is flowing from a canyon-like hole in the sun's atmosphere. First contact with the stream on Feb. 14th could cause a minor G1-class geomagnetic storm with Arctic auroras for Valentine's Day. Aurora alerts: SMS Text.

Expand: labels | no labels | Carrington
Sunspot 3990 has a 'beta-gamma' magnetic field that harbors energy for M-class solar flares. Photo credit: NASA/SDO


hmi1898 nn.gif
 
An incredible shift in mountain temperatures in the Pyrenees today reaches 17.778°C, while this area (at 650 m or 2,130 ft above sea level) typically experiences snow on the ground.

The southwest of France is currently experiencing a false spring, an abnormally mild period in the middle of winter that accelerates the awakening of vegetation. For two weeks, temperatures will flirt with or even exceed 20°C. Yes, you read that right, two weeks, in the middle of winter! Today, some regions are even approaching 22 to 24°C. This premature thaw exposes vegetation to increased risk in the event of a sudden return of cold weather, a scenario that is unfortunately common in recent years. Meanwhile, the North of France remains under the influence of cooler air... but a thaw should soon set in there too.




GLANCING-BLOW CME: A CME that left the sun on Feb. 15th might graze Earth's magnetic field tomorrow. A near-miss is just as likely. Either way, minor G1-class geomagnetic storms are possible on Feb. 18th as a result of the close encounter. CME impact alerts: SMS Text.

 

Attachments

  • hmi1898 nmn.gif
    hmi1898 nmn.gif
    2.3 MB · Views: 0
A HOLE IN THE SUN'S ATMOSPHERE: Minor G1-class geomagnetic storms are possible on March 1st when a stream of solar wind is expected to hit Earth's magnetic field. The gaseous material is flowing from a large hole in the sun's atmosphere, now squarely facing Earth. Aurora alerts: SMS Text.

ISS CAPTURES A 'GIGANTIC JET' LIGHTNING BOLT: Most bolts of lightning go down toward the Earth. But, sometimes, they go in the other direction, too. On Nov. 19, 2024, astronauts onboard the ISS watched a Gigantic Jet rocket up from the Gulf of Mexico:

Puerto Rican sprite chaser Frankie Lucena noticed the rare bolt while he was browsing NASA's Gateway to Astronaut Photography of Earth. "I checked the ISS database for pictures before and after the event, and found that there were 4 photos in all," says Lucena. "I've animated them here."

Sometimes called "Earth's tallest lightning," because they reach the ionosphere more than 50 miles high, Gigantic Jets were discovered near Taiwan and Puerto Rico in 2001-2002. Since then, only dozens have been photographed. They seem to love storms over water and are famous for surprising passengers onboard commercial aircraft.

The nature of gigantic jets and their possible association with other types of Transient Luminous Events (TLEs) such as blue jets and red sprites remains an active topic of research.

SOLAR CYCLE 25 2025 02 24 THE SUN TODAY



🌩️ 6154 lightning strikes in 6 hours! Unheard of in February for at least 10 years (new daily record since 2014). Electrical activity was remarkably intense for the season on February 25, and concentrated in the center-east.
➡️ see all lightning statistics: Statistiques d'activité électrique sur la France - Keraunos

New March trend and interesting facts about the polar vortex We look at the possible weather developments in March. We also talk about the stratospheric polar vortex, for which there are interesting calculations.https://youtu.be/eqR2VNmYgU4 /LD
 

Attachments

  • coronalhole_sdo_blank 2-25-25.jpg
    coronalhole_sdo_blank 2-25-25.jpg
    97.9 KB · Views: 1
Sunspot number:105
What is the sunspot number?
Updated 02 Mar 2025
Spotless Days
Current Stretch: 0 days
2025 total: 0 days (0%)
2024 total: 0 days (0%)
2023 total: 0 days (0%)
2022 total: 1 day (<1%)
2021 total: 64 days (18%)
2020 total: 208 days (57%)
2019 total: 281 days (77%)
2018 total: 221 days (61%)
2017 total: 104 days (28%)
2016 total: 32 days (9%)
2015 total: 0 days (0%)
2014 total: 1 day (<1%)
2013 total: 0 days (0%)
2012 total: 0 days (0%)
2011 total: 2 days (<1%)
2010 total: 51 days (14%)
2009 total: 260 days (71%)
2008 total: 268 days (73%)
2007 total: 152 days (42%)
2006 total: 70 days (19%)
Updated 02 Mar 2025


Cluster of Earthquakes Tonga Trench area. Puerto Rico Trench EQ activity. Saturday Night 3/1/2025


The image of the water vapour absorption channel, which represents the atmospheric structure around 500-600 hPa, shows the wide trough that extends from NE to SW from France to the Madeira area, whose axis I have indicated with a blue line. You can also see the small waves (O1, O2, O3) typical of the dynamic instability that usually occurs in the easterly wind currents at high altitude, and which can be the seedbed of small waves.

This is something that is shown in the 300 hPa geopotential map forecast for tomorrow, Monday, at noon (second image). The letters "L" correspond to secondary vortices/troughs/small danas that arise on the western flank of that wide cold trough that I referred to earlier.

This configuration at altitude west of the Peninsula with a certain vorticity advection in its front area, together with the ridge that extends through central Europe, forces a marked easterly flow at the surface that brings humid Mediterranean air to the Peninsula that is forced to rise due to the situation of high levels. Given the poorly defined structure of the circulation at these levels, the ascent zones are a bit "erratic" and so is the structure of the precipitation fields. However, at least in this first half of the week, the precipitations will affect almost all the peninsular areas although they will be more important in Mediterranean areas (areas of direct impact of the more humid flow plus orography), in the southwest of the peninsula (areas where there may be greater ascents) and mountainous areas of the interior (effect of the relief exposed to the easterly flow).

The presence of this trough also affects the Canary Islands, although the humid flow will be from the north. There will be precipitation, which will be more abundant on the islands with higher relief, as shown in the latest image of accumulated precipitation until Wednesday afternoon.

In summary, an unstable first half of the week with very irregular showers, a situation that could continue in the following days on the Peninsula.

(For more complete and up-to-date information, see @AEMET_Esp's predictions and warnings)

The Current Sunspot Cycle and the Jet Stream

 


A CME IS COMING: On Mar. 1st, a magnetic filament on the sun erupted and hurled a CME into space. NOAA forecasters say it will graze Earth on March 4th, potentially sparking a G1-class geomagnetic storm. High latitude sky watchers should be alert for auroras if/when the CME arrives. CME impact alerts: SMS Text.

Ethiopia Rift Earthquakes today. Puerto Rico Trench Eqs continue. Sunday Night 3/2/2025


Meanwhile:
 
THESE GREEN RIPPLES ARE NOT AURORAS: Green is a color we associate with Spring. It is fitting, then, that the approach of northern Spring is making green ripples in the sky. Aaron Watson photographed the phenomenon on Feb. 28th from the West Elk Mountains of Colorado:

"I was out stargazing and noticed what appeared to be dark streaks across the sky," says Watson. "The sky looked bright like there were high altitude clouds, and the dark streaks looked like clear patches. A 20 second exposure with the Nikon D750 revealed the green glow."

This is airglow, a verdant emission produced by photochemistry in Earth’s upper atmosphere. You've probably seen it in pictures taken from the ISS; it's that thin shell of green light surrounding our planet.

Spring is airglow season mainly because of springtime thunderstorms. Updrafts from convective storm cells batter the upper atmosphere from below, creating a bulls-eye pattern of pressure waves. These rippling waves amplify airglow, creating scenes like Watson recorded in Colorado. Multiple storms can even create interference patterns--a must-see!

'Tis the season for airglow. Photographers who catch it, please submit your photos here

Boom
PDF 👀

 

Attachments

  • hmi1898 3-7-25 Sol.gif
    hmi1898 3-7-25 Sol.gif
    2.3 MB · Views: 0
Last edited:
CO-ROTATING INTERACTION REGION: A co-rotating interaction region (CIR) hit Earth on March 8th, setting the stage for a possible G1-class geomagnetic storm. CIRs are transition zones between fast- and slow-moving streams of solar wind. They contain magnetic fields and shock waves akin to those of CMEs. Aurora alerts: SMS Text.


I wonder what NASA is hoping to observe. Could be the infamous Planet X?

PUNCH launches on Saturday, March 8th! View the launch at NASA+
Snip
SpaceX and NASA are set for the launch of the agency’s newest space telescope and solar research mission. A Falcon 9 will liftoff from California with the Spectro-Photometer for the History of the Universe, Epoch of Reionization, and Ices Explorer (SPHEREx) near-infrared observatory, with the Polarimeter to Unify the Corona and Heliosphere (PUNCH) heliophysics mission flying as a rideshare.

During its mission, SPHEREx will complete surveys of the entire sky in optical and near-infrared light, observing over 450 million galaxies and more than 100 million stars in the Milky Way. From these surveys, scientists will identify the source of the early universe’s inflation and search for organic molecules throughout the universe. Meanwhile, PUNCH will utilize four small satellites to investigate the Sun’s inner heliosphere and how the corona becomes solar wind.

Falcon 9 was scheduled to liftoff from Space Launch Complex 4E (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on Saturday, March 8, at 7:10 PM PST (03:10 UTC on March 9). SpaceX announced a delay due to vehicle checkouts, pending a new launch date.

That vehicle, Falcon booster B1088, will support this mission. Following liftoff and stage separation, the booster will return to the launch site and perform a landing at Landing Zone 4 (LZ-4), located just a couple hundred meters west of SLC-4E. This launch will serve as B1088’s third flight, having previously flown the Transporter 12 and NROL-126 missions from Vandenberg.

Falcon 9 will launch on a southwestern trajectory out of Vandenberg, flying SPHEREx and PUNCH to a Sun-synchronous orbit. In total, SPHEREx and PUNCH mass 256 kg. Assuming an on-time launch, this mission will mark the 445th Falcon 9 mission, the 27th SpaceX mission of 2025, and the 45th orbital launch attempt of 2025 worldwide.

SPHEREx

Designed as a medium-class mission within NASA’s Explorers program, SPHEREx was selected by NASA for funding and development in February 2019. The mission is managed by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in California, with James Bock of the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) serving as principal investigator.

SPHEREx’s first proposal was submitted to NASA in December 2014 and was subsequently selected for continued development as part of the Small Explorer Program (SMEX) in July 2015. However, SPHEREx’s proposal was ultimately not selected for funding as part of SMEX, and the SPHEREx team resubmitted an upgraded proposal for SPHEREx as a Medium-Class Explorer (MIDEX) mission in December 2016. The SPHEREx MIDEX proposal was selected as a finalist in August 2017 and was later announced as the winner in February 2019.

SPHEREx entered Phase C of NASA’s Project Life Cycle in January 2021, allowing mission teams to finalize the mission’s design and begin constructing and assembling spacecraft components. NASA selected SpaceX’s Falcon 9 to launch the mission in February 2021 and announced the addition of PUNCH as a rideshare payload in August 2022.

The observatory was fully assembled by April 22, 2024, and entered final testing soon after. These tests were conducted in late 2024 and, following completion, SPHEREx was shipped to Vandenberg for final integration with the Falcon 9 upper stage and payload fairing encapsulation.

Rather than relying on a suite of highly technical instruments, SPHEREx will utilize a single, wide-field aluminum telescope instrument designed for a single observing mode in either visible or near-infrared light. This telescope features three mirrors, an aperture diameter of 20 cm, and six mercury cadmium telluride photodetector arrays. These characteristics give the telescope an 11 degree by 3.5 degree field of view, with the telescope obtaining spectra through multiple exposures and placing an object at different positions within its field of view. Observing an object at different locations within the telescope will allow SPHEREx to measure the light from the object across multiple wavelengths.

SPHEREx also features six linear variable filters (LVF). These LVFs produce spectra, and do so by the telescope moving in the wavelength-varying directions of the LVFs — a method that was proven on NASA’s New Horizons mission to Pluto with the LEISA instrument.

Extending away from the telescope is SPHEREx’s three-stage V-groove system, which gives the observatory its recognizable conical shape and allows for the cooling of its optics and internal systems. This three-stage V-groove design consists of three nested photon shields that protect the spacecraft’s cooler and telescope optics from radiation emitted by the Sun, Earth, and the spacecraft. Like the James Webb Space Telescope, SPHEREx must be cooled to extremely low temperatures of less than 55 degrees Kelvin to ensure that any heat from the observatory doesn’t interfere with infrared observations, as a significant portion of infrared light is emitted as heat.


Swarm of Large Earthquake near the Nankai Trough. Mega Quake coming soon? Saturday Night 3/8/2025
 
THE SUN'S NORTHERN HEMISPHERE IS WAKING UP: For much of the past year, solar activity has been dominated by southern sunspots. Now, the sun's northern hemisphere is waking up. Two-thirds of today's sunspot groups are north of the sun's equator, and the sunspot number is climbing again. Could this herald a second peak for Solar Max? Stay tuned. Aurora alerts:

A Whole Lot of Regions Appear & Storming All Week | Space Weather Spotlight 14 March 2025


Iceland Eruption coming soon? Over 600 Earthquakes hit the area. Thursday Update 3/13/2025

Campi Flegrei Volcano Update; Increased Uplift, Damaging M4.4 Earthquake
 
Back
Top Bottom