Solar physicist at LMSAL (alum UTkyAst). I believe space weather missions (for safe human space exploration) need a way higher investment than science missions.
MOST POWERFUL FLARE IN SOLAR CYCLE 25.
It was X9.0 in GOES X-ray measurement. It was quite eruptive, leaving a coronal wave. The eruption/CME seemed to result from magnetic reconnection rather than ideally from a pre-existing flux rope. It may come in less than 3 days.
Warning! The M3.3 flare on 2026/06/02 from AR 14455 (near central meridian) was accompanied by a likely unrelated eruption on the east limb. The CME detected by LASCO around 17:00 was from the latter eruption.
Latest LASCO C2 images with GOES X-ray light curves from https://t.co/n4ruBjB4pl. See how the intense flares in AR 14455 were associated with CMEs. Note that the prominent CME shortly after the M3.3 flare (around 2026/06/02 17:00) was from a different eruption on the east limb.
Thank you, @NWSSWPC. I enjoyed the video.
Speaking of the latest M3.3 flare, the most interesting thing to me is loop oscillations seen in lower right of this movie of SDO/AIA 171 Å images. We would need the AIA spatial resolution and cadence to observe these phenomena.
Latest SWPC video update regarding sunspots, magnetic flux emergence, and eruptive events. And, just 5 minutes or so after recording this video, an M3 (R1) solar flare occurred right from that emerged flux! Check out the video to learn more!
A big eruption on the invisible side of the Sun on 25 May 2026, responsible for a S1 radiation storm, which was nicely captured in this SDO/AIA running-ratio movie. It occurred ~55° behind the west limb, according to STEREO. Note an ongoing C-class flare on the east limb.
There was an SEP event (peak >10 MeV proton flux 23.8 pfu) late on 25 May, after a C4.6 flare. The CCOR-1 movie shows a CME heading to northwest. My conclusion: this CME was responsible for the SEP event, which had nothing to do with the C4.6 flare. The CME was from the far side.
Animation of coronagraph (LASCO C2) data side by side with the GOES X-ray light curves for the past week. No very energetic CMEs are found, from either front or far side of the Sun. There may have been intense flares on the far side, but they were likely non-eruptive.
Today's solar eruption associated with an M1.9 flare in AR 14436. The coronal wave does not look like strongly driven in low altitudes; no type II radio burst in NOAA's report. But the eruption may be strong higher up. There is a chance of glancing Earth during 19-20 May.
The eruption on 10 May 2026 from AR 14436 (associated with an M5.7 flare) was spectacular enough to wake me up. The region is the target of a Major Flare Watch by the Max Millennium Chief Observer.
Impressive eruption associated with the second X-class (X2.5) flare on 2026-04-24. Note that the coronal wave propagating into the disk was suppressed by a coronal hole.
Gorgeous eruption associated with an X2.4 flare in AR 14419 as it approaches the west limb. The CME is not Earth-directed, and the shock is not strong enough to produce a noticeable increase in GOES proton flux. But this is still a nice event.
Indeed, I seemed to be still asleep😪when I tweeted the video. AR 14119 should have been AR 14419 and AR 14220 should have been AR 14420. See the figure below.
huh? u still asleep? it's AR14419 & AR14420 😏👋🌞⚡ though the current numbering system is ridiculous, old spots get 'new' numbers as they transit Eastern limb. If we had full coverage of '360°' with multiple solar orbiters we could revise the system & perpetually keep better track of sunspots & 'far side activity' as AR's transit beyond the western solar limb. but no, they need all our money for forever wars. 😅🙏
I have waken up from long (~3 week-long) sleep thanks to increasing solar activity. Several eruptions occurred from AR 14119. But it is the eruption in AR 14220 in upper left that engages me because of a coronal wave and a fast and fat CME. This video captures two eruptions.
A shock wave arrived around 15:00 UT on 2026/04/03, resulting in a G3 (Kp=7-) storm. This seems to be from the April Fool's Day CME. But how did it arrive, even though it was seen to propagate largely in NW direction, and how did it so soon? Recent CMEs tend to arrive late.
Late on April Fool's Day, there was a filament eruption in and above AR 14403, causing an extended CME (largely moving to northwest). The associated flare peaked at C6.1, but the eruption was almost over before the start time of the flare (23:08) as shown in the NOAA event list.
Late on April Fool's Day, there was a filament eruption in and above AR 14403, causing an extended CME (largely moving to northwest). The associated flare peaked at C6.1, but the eruption was almost over before the start time of the flare (23:08) as shown in the NOAA event list.
Good old days?! Note that the Sun may not be the only thing to blame for less intense geomagnetic storms. Our planet also may have changed in a way to react with the solar wind less dramatically.
Imagine the month of aurora they had during September 1957... just going through some historical Dst data right now, and I always get humbled by the older solar cycles.
If you think this current cycle 25 is active, in reality it is average to below average.
A gorgeous eruption associated with an X1.5 flare in AR 14405, exhibiting impressive large-scale disturbances. A glancing blow may be expected on April 1-2.
A gorgeous eruption associated with an X1.5 flare in AR 14405, exhibiting impressive large-scale disturbances. A glancing blow may be expected on April 1-2.