2012-07-13

Huge active region, X class flare, CME on the way!


Massive Sun spot group 1520 is one of the biggest of this cycle. As well as this it unleashed a huge X class flare on the 13th. This flare hurled a piece of Sun towards the Earth (coronal mass ejection or CME) which should impact about 9:15UT on Saturday 14th. This should spark displays of northern lights. My solar flare monitor captured the flare as it hit the Earth's atmosphere. Hours earlier I imaged the group with my hydrogen alpha and white light telescopes.

Dave Gradwell

2012-07-06

Continued strong activity

The Sun continues to release large flares. For 6 days in a row numerous high energy  M sized flares are being volleyed off the Sun.  Every bump on the graph shows a flare. Its expected that the largest type (X flare) may be unleashed in the next few days

Dave Gradwell

2012-07-04

July 4th fireworks

Sunspot complex 1513 to 1515 is one of the most active of this solar cycle. Today's trace from my solar flare monitor looks like a rough sea. Numerous large flares have erupted during the day, only the larger M type flares have been labelled, but anything that looks like a "bump" is a solar flare.

Dave Gradwell