EarthSky sun activity author Dr. C. Alex Young also produces @thesuntoday.
Sun activity for November 28, 2023: More sun-stuff headed toward Earth
Today’s top news: The sun is at it again! We saw a huge eruption on the sun yesterday, and it’s headed our way. In fact, the last 24 hours was full of action, with a huge solar burp in the northeast at around 18:24 UTC yesterday, followed by another one slightly further northeast at around 22:23 UTC. And if those two weren’t enough, another blast came from an area not yet in view, just over the northeast limb (edge). The first two more than likely were directed toward Earth, while the third one will probably pass us by. As with the previous day’s eruption, if these coronal mass ejections (CMEs) are heading toward Earth, this could mean geomagnetic storms. And when Earth’s magnetic field gets disturbed, that means more auroras! Keep an eye out over the next few days. Last 24 hours: With eight C flares produced by the sun during the past day, sun activity is currently deemed to be low. The largest flare was a C6.7 from AR3500 at 18:52 UTC on November 27. The lead flare producer of the period (11 UTC yesterday to 11 UTC today) is an unnumbered active region coming into view on the northeast limb, which fired two of the eight blasts. The sun currently has 10 active regions on its Earth-facing side. Sunspot group AR3500’s magnetic complexity reduced to a less-potent beta-gamma configuration, the same as AR3499. The rest of the active regions show simple 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 that we reported yesterday is expected to reach Earth in a glancing blow on November 30. And two additional eruptions from the past day may reach Earth soon, too. They were observed in SDO and SUVI imagery at 18:24 and 23:24 UTC, respectively. Current geomagnetic activity: Earth’s 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 today and tomorrow as the effects of a CME impact and high-speed solar wind from a coronal hole wane. An increase of geomagnetic activity is anticipated by late November 29 as the glancing blow of the CME hurled by the sun on November 27 starts to affect Earth. We may see a G1 (minor) geomagnetic storm, which could increase to a G2 (moderate) storm.
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?
Sun activity for November 27, 2023: Watch sun-stuff blast into space
EarthSky sun activity author Dr. C. Alex Young also produces @thesuntoday.
It is a low sun activity day, but nobody told our star that. It released a huge rope of plasma and magnetic fields, a filament, off into space, possibly heading our way. We await further analysis for confirmation of an Earth-directed coronal mass ejection (CME). 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. Stay tuned! Last 24 hours: Sun activity has dropped again over the past 24 hours, with six C flares over the past day (11 UTC yesterday to 11 UTC today). The largest was a C2.7 from AR3500 at 12:52 UTC on November 26. The sun still has an impressive number of active regions – 12 in all – but most stayed the same or decayed some. Region AR3500 has maintained its beta-gamma-delta configuration, but its size and flare activity are small. AR3499 has developed a beta-gamma configuration, showing some increase in magnetic complexity.
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 28 is low. Several eruptions have sent more blobs of sun-stuff heading our way, which 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.
Like what you read? Subscribe and receive daily news delivered to your inbox.
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
