M-CLASS SOLAR FLARE: Solar activity is picking up. New sunspot AR1865 erupted this morning (Oct. 9th at 01:48 UT), producing the strongest solar flare in nearly two months. NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory recorded the M2.8-class eruption: movie. Earth was not in the line of fire, but future eruptions could be geoeffective as the sunspot turns toward our planet in the days ahead.
CME IMPACT, GEOMAGNETIC STORM: An interplanetary shock wave, possibly the leading edge of a CME, hit Earth's magnetic field on October 8th at approximately 2015 UT (1:15 pm PDT). The impact sparked a G1-classgeomagnetic storm (in progress) and bright auroras around the Arctic Circle. Lana Rupp photographed this "stunning display of color" over Borgarnes, Iceland, during the early hours of Oct. 9th:
Earth is passing through the wake of the CME where a region of high-speed solar wind continues to buffet our planet's magnetic field. NOAA forecasters, who suspect that a second CME might arrive on Oct. 9th, estimate a 65% chance of polar geomagnetic storms during the next 24 hours.
Source: Spaceweather.com (Now with link on sidebar)
Oct 9, 2013 4 MIN News:
Comet ISON, Solar Pole Flip, Tropical Storm heading toward Philippines,
