STORM2K

The strongest solar flare of the year, an X7-class explosion, erupted this morning at 0700 GMT (2 a.m. EST).

Earth's magnetic field is still reverberating from a series of CME-hits this week. Another hit could be in store if this morning's X7-flare sent a CME toward Earth. Sky watchers, remain alert for auroras.


Sunspot 720 is huge--about as wide as the planet Jupiter. On Wednesday, Jan. 19th, Don Brown took this picture of the sun rising over Park City, Utah. The giant 'spot is clearly visible:


"This is an exellent case of a mostly photographic aurora--a deep reddish glow visible to the camera but not to the unaided eye," says Schur. "It started in the northern sky after midnight, and as the Kp index grew to 7 by early morning, the glow increased in size to more than 35 degrees over the northern horizon."

Above information thanks to spaceweather.com

Region 720, the site of the X-class activity is very close to the west limb now and so it's very likely that any CME produced by this event will mostly miss the Earth.

Steve

That is an impressive shot of it.

Actually, the AZ aurbo was a bit more than photographic as I detected it visually for brief periods of time when it would brighten up. It was a faint red glow low on the northern horizon. Of course this might be due to the fact that I have good night vision.

Steve

MY! That's crow is really tasty when barbequed AZ style. The Gemag field has taken a big hit and severe to extreme storm conditions are possible over the next 3-6 hours at least-if you have clear skies as sundown go out and look.

Steve