Sun activity for November 28, 2023: One more sun-stuff blast into space
Today’s top news: Sun activity level is low during the past day with only C flares and low flaring production. But after yesterday’s huge rope of plasma and magnetic fields, a filament, coronal mass ejection (CME) producer, the sun blasted another big burp of solar material. It occurred at around 11:58 UTC on November 27 and produced almost simultaneously forming a line of exploding filaments on the north hemisphere. Distinctively it produced a coronal mass ejections (CME) that are under modeling and analysis to determine any Earth bound component. Same as yesterday, if this CME is heading toward Earth, this could mean disturbances in Earth’s magnetic field – aka geomagnetic storms – and that would mean more auroras. Don’t put up your cameras and lenses! Auroras may return during the next days. Keep tuned.
Last 24 hours: Only eight C flares produced by the sun during the past day means sun activity is at low level within the last 24 hours (11 UTC yesterday to 11 UTC today). The largest blast was a C6.7 from AR3500 at 18:52 UTC on November 27. There is an incoming active region on northeast unnumbered yet that could be considered the lead flare producer of the period. It blasted 2 flares. The rest of the six C flares were exploded individually by different active region, one each. The sun has 10 active regions on its Earth-viewed side. Region AR3500 reduced its magnetic complexity to a beta-gamma configuration, the same as AR3499. The rest of the active regions show alpha and beta configurations. Next 24 hours: Today’s forecast is a 95% chance for C flares, a 35% chance for M flares, and a 5% chance for X flares. Next expected CME: The filament eruption at 6 UTC on November 27 we reported yesterday, after modeling and analysis, the resulting coronal mass ejection (CME) was found a component south of Earth’s orbit. A glancing blow will reach us on November 30. There is one more emission of sun-stuff that may come similar as the one just mentioned, southerly bound to Earth’s orbit. It was observed in LASCO C2 imagery at 20 UTC on November 27 and is associated with the C3.8 flare at 18:37 UTC on November 27. Analysis and modeling of this event continue. We will report the results as soon specialist come out with final conclusion. Current geomagnetic activity: The geomagnetic field is quiet at the time of this writing (11 UTC on November 28). Quiet to unsettled conditions are expected over the rest of the day and tomorrow as the effects of CME impact and high-speed solar wind from a coronal hole wane but an increase of geomagnetic activity is anticipated by November 29, late, as the glancing effects of the CME hurled by the sun on November 27 will start to provide its effects.G1 (minor) geomagnetic storm is possible with chances for a G2 (moderate) storming. Alert for aurora chasers.
This image shows sun activity – with the most active regions labeled – as of 2 UTC on November 28, 2023. Original image, without labels, via NASA SDO. Courtesy of NASA/SDO and the AIA, EVE, and HMI science teams, with labeling by EarthSky. Today’s sun is posted by Armando Caussade. Why are east and west on the sun reversed?
EarthSky sun activity author Dr. C. Alex Young also produces @thesuntoday.
The sun in recent days
This image shows sun activity – with the most active regions labeled – as of 6 UTC on November 27, 2023. Courtesy of NASA/ SDO and the AIA, EVE, and HMI science teams, with labeling by EarthSky.This image shows sun activity – with the most active regions labeled – as of 6 UTC on November 26, 2023. Courtesy of NASA/ SDO and the AIA, EVE, and HMI science teams, with labeling by EarthSky.This image shows sun activity – with the most active regions labeled – as of 7 UTC on November 25, 2023. Courtesy of NASA/ SDO and the AIA, EVE, and HMI science teams, with labeling by EarthSky.This image shows sun activity – with the most active regions labeled – as of 6 UTC on November 24, 2023. Courtesy of NASA/ SDO and the AIA, EVE, and HMI science teams, with labeling by EarthSky.This image shows sun activity – with the most active regions labeled – as of 3 UTC on November 23, 2023. Courtesy of NASA/ SDO and the AIA, EVE, and HMI science teams, with labeling by EarthSky.This image shows sun activity – with the most active regions labeled – as of 5 UTC on November 22, 2023. Courtesy of NASA/ SDO and the AIA, EVE, and HMI science teams, with labeling by EarthSky.This image shows sun activity – with the most active regions labeled – as of 7 UTC on November 21, 2023. Courtesy of NASA/ SDO and the AIA, EVE, and HMI science teams, with labeling by EarthSky.
Sun images from our community
We invite you all to send us your beautiful recent photos of sunspots and auroras. Naturally, we love receiving your photos! And to those of you who’ve already posted a photo to our community page, thank you.
View at EarthSky Community Photos. | Mario Rana in Hampton, Virginia, captured this filtered image on November 27, 2023. Mario wrote: “Hydrogen-alpha image of the sun with numerous active regions and filaments. There are a couple of nice prominences too.” Thank you, Mario!View at EarthSky Community Photos. | Patricio León in Santiago, Chile, captured this filtered image of the sun on November 27, 2023. Patricio wrote: “Several sunspot groups with big cores across the sunface.” Thank you, Patricio!View at EarthSky Community Photos. | Jim Militello in Tucson, Arizona, captured this hydrogen-alpha filtered image of the sun on November 26, 2023. Jim wrote: “The image shows at least 7 sunspots, active regions, and numerous filaments. A couple decent prominence as well. Seeing conditions were below average.” Thank you, Jim!View at EarthSky Community Photos. | David Hoskin in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, captured this filtered view of the sun on November 25, 2023. David wrote: “There is an impressive amount of sunspot activity in this filtered image of the Sun that I captured earlier today!” Thank you, David!
Bottom line: Sun activity for November 27 is low. A blast of solar material may be heading our way and that could mean more auroras!
C. Alex Young is a solar astrophysicist studying the Sun and space weather. Alex is passionate about sharing science with diverse audiences. This led him to start The Sun Today with his designer wife, Linda. First through Facebook and Twitter then adding an extensive website thesuntoday.org, the two work together to engage the public about the Sun and its role in our solar system. Alex led national engagement efforts for the 2017 total solar eclipse. He is the Associate Director for Science in the Heliophysics Science Division at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center.
Raúl Cortés studied engineering at the Autonomous University of Nuevo León in Monterrey, Mexico, obtained a scholarship to continue his studies in Japan and after returning to Monterrey he got credits on MBA from the Graduate School of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering Faculty. He became a teacher at the University UANL teaching Math and Physics and dedicated the rest of his professional career to serve in engineering areas for USA, Japan and Germany based corporations. His passion for the skies go back to when he was a child, always intrigued about the stars and constellations and reading and researching about the matter. From 2010 on, he dedicated his attention to photographing the stars, constellations, the moon and the sun. Raúl's work on his photography has been published and posted on the ESC as well as in other platforms and has gained attention to be published by local Monterrey newspapers.
Armando is well known as an astronomy educator, after 30+ years leading extensive initiatives of public outreach and 10+ years teaching in colleges. As one of only a handful of Puerto Rican science communicators during Comet Halley's last visit, he assumed a pioneering role starting in 1985 when science was just beginning to enter the local mindset; over time his work brought meaningful change to the culture, inspiring people to pursue interests in science and technology. His affiliations include Ana G. Méndez University–Cupey, where in 2014 he spearheaded an 8-course extension program focusing on observational astronomy, the first ever in the island.
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