Sun news: Solar action is on the far side

Sun news July 15: Solar action is on the far side

(11 UTC July 14 – 11 UTC July 15)

Today’s top story: The most exciting solar activity is currently on the sun’s far side. We can tell thanks to the fiery prominences – long ropes of solar material – on the northwestern and southwestern solar horizons. Take a look at our top image. It seems the sunspot regions that just rotated to the far side are keeping up their fiery activity, which is spilling over the western limb (edge). For example, AR4485, which rotated to the far side a couple of days ago, registered a C1.2 flare during this period. This blast was likely larger than measured, since the sun itself blocked part of its light.

Past 24 hours on the sun

Flare activity: Solar activity stayed at low levels over the past day. In total, the sun fired four flares: three C-class (common) and one B-class (weak).

• Strongest flare: A C3.9 from an as yet unnumbered incoming region in the southeast, peaking at 12:39 UTC on July 14.
• Lead flare producer: This as yet unnumbered newcomer led the pack. It sparked two of the four tracked flares, including the strongest C-class event plus another C1.1 flare. Meanwhile, AR4489 produced a B flare and AR4485 added one C flare.

Sunspot regions: Today the sun shows two numbered active regions on its Earth-viewed side. Interestingly, the two sunspot regions sit in opposite directions, one in the southeast and the other in the southwest. As a result, they look almost symmetrically placed. Take a look at our sun image below.

• AR4489 (alpha): This moderately sized sunspot has received a number. It still sits close to the horizon, so its magnetic structure is difficult to analyze. For now, forecasters defined it as an alpha configuration until they can assess it better.
• AR4482 (alpha): This region stayed mostly unchanged, showing signs of decay with a simpler alpha configuration.

Blasts from the sun? Observers spotted no Earth-directed coronal mass ejections (CMEs) in available coronagraph imagery during the past day.

Past 24 hours in space weather

Solar wind: Solar wind speeds increased from moderate to moderate-high levels during the period. The combined effects of weak CME arrivals and fast solar wind drove this rise. Meanwhile, the interplanetary magnetic field registered strong levels late on July 14, before decreasing to moderate levels.

Bt, Bz and magnetic coupling: The Bz component pointed northward during the first half of this period. Then, at 18 UTC on July 14, it turned southward for the rest of the period. This configuration favors auroras because it opens Earth’s magnetic field to incoming solar wind energy.

Earth’s magnetic field: The geomagnetic field ranged from quiet to active levels (Kp 2–4). The Kp index reached 4 (active) during one three-hour period at 5:54 UTC on July 15. At the time of this writing, the Kp index continues at level 4.

What’s ahead? Sun–Earth forecast

Flare activity forecast: Forecasters expect low levels of solar activity. The chances for M-class (moderate) flares have dropped from 15% yesterday to 10% today.

Likewise, the chance for an X-class (strong) flare holds at 1% today.

Geomagnetic activity forecast:

• July 15: Expect quiet-to-active levels. Active periods of Kp 4 are possible. The combined effects of a couple of weak CMEs that left the sun on July 11 and 12, plus fast solar wind from a coronal hole, will drive these conditions.
• July 16: Quiet-to-unsettled levels are possible with glancing effects from the faster July 12 CMEs. These could briefly enhance conditions. Model Kp estimates of 2–3 suggest any impacts would be minor.
• July 17: Quiet to unsettled conditions may extend through the day.

Sun news July 14: Solar eruption stirs Earth’s magnetic field

(11 UTC July 13 – 11 UTC July 14)

The expected coronal mass ejection (CME) fired from the sun on July 10 did arrive. But it didn’t reach G1 (minor) geomagnetic storm levels. Instead, the geomagnetic disturbance peaked as a minor Kp 4 enhancement. Conditions reached that threshold at 00:00 UTC on July 14. The enhancement lasted for one three-hour synoptic period. What caused it? The combined punch of a waning coronal hole solar wind stream and the glancing arrival of the CME. Now we keep watching ahead, as more CMEs could brush past Earth over the next several days. So stay alert, aurora watchers!

Past 24 hours on the sun

Flare activity: Solar activity continued at low levels over the past day. The sun produced a total of 6 flares: 2 C-class (common) and 4 B-class (weak).

• Strongest flare was a C1.4 from AR4485 peaking at 17:47 UTC on July 13.
• Lead flare producer: AR4485 stayed on top once again. This time it dominated with 3 of the 6 tracked flares, including the strongest C-class event plus a couple of B flares. Meanwhile, AR4489 chased close behind with two flares: one C and one B.

Sunspot regions: Currently, 5 numbered active regions populate the Earth-viewed solar disk. Newcomer AR4489 received its number during this period as it showed its nose over the southeast horizon.

• AR4485 (beta-gamma): The period’s most complex and active region has left the building. Even so, it keeps flaring from the far side, at the very edge of the solar southwestern limb. Observers spotted a beautiful prominence in that area.
• AR4489 (alpha): This moderately sized sunspot has received a number. It still sits close to the horizon, so its magnetic structure is difficult to analyze. For now, forecasters defined it as an alpha configuration until they can assess it better.
• AR4487 (alpha) and AR4482 (alpha): The remaining numbered regions stayed mostly unchanged or showed signs of decay. Both carry a simpler alpha configuration.

Blasts from the sun? Observers spotted no Earth-bound coronal mass ejections (CMEs) in available coronagraph imagery during the last 24 hours.

Past 24 hours in space weather

Solar wind: Solar wind conditions reflected the waning influence of a coronal hole’s high-speed solar wind stream. Speeds averaged moderate levels. They then decreased to moderate-low by the end of this period. Meanwhile, the interplanetary magnetic field registered moderate levels.

Bt, Bz and magnetic coupling: The Bz component showed a southerly orientation during the first half of this period. Then, at 22 UTC on July 13, it turned northward for three hours. After 2:30 UTC this morning, the Bz component tilted southward again. This configuration favors auroras because it opens Earth’s magnetic field to incoming solar wind energy.

Earth’s magnetic field: The geomagnetic field ranged from quiet to active levels. The Kp index reached 4 (active) during one three-hour synoptic period at 0:00 UTC on July 14. Outside this interval, conditions stayed generally quiet to unsettled (Kp 1–3). By the end of the reporting period, the field had settled back to quiet levels. At the time of this writing, the Kp index sits just below level 2.

Sun news July 13: Sun-stuff could reach Earth tonight

(11 UTC July 12 – 11 UTC July 13)

Earth’s magnetic field is set for another round of disturbance. A burst of sun-stuff – a coronal mass ejection (CME) – fired from the sun on July 10 is edging closer. It could give our planet a glancing blow late today or early tomorrow. This comes after our geomagnetic field already reached G1 (minor) geomagnetic storm levels yesterday. That was caused by the combined punch of a waning coronal hole solar wind stream and the glancing arrival of a CME from July 9. And looking ahead, forecasters are keeping a close eye on up to four CMEs that could brush past Earth over the next several days. Stay tuned!

Past 24 hours on the sun

Flare activity: Solar activity held at low to moderate levels over the past day. Observers logged 8 flares: 4 C-class and 4 B-class events.

• Strongest flare: A C2.6 from AR4485 peaking at 13:46 UTC on July 12.
• Lead flare producer: AR4485 dominated once again, firing at least 6 of the 8 tracked flares, including all four C-class events. However, the region’s productivity should diminish rapidly as it rotates behind the western limb.

Sunspot regions: The Earth-facing solar disk displayed approximately 5 numbered active regions. However, the count is in flux as AR4485 departs around the west limb and a new spot emerges on the east.

• AR4485 (beta-gamma): The period’s most complex and active region has now reached the extreme western limb (edge). Its position makes analysis increasingly difficult. Even so, its beta-gamma magnetic configuration means it has the potential for M-class flares.
• New unnumbered region: A moderately sized sunspot has breached the southeastern limb and is now rotating into view. NOAA will assign a number once the region’s magnetic structure can be better assessed.
• The remaining numbered regions stayed mostly unchanged or showed signs of decay. None exhibited complex magnetic configurations or significant flare activity during the period.

Blasts from the sun? Forecasters tracked multiple CMEs during and around the reporting period. None of the newly observed events should directly impact Earth. Instead, the primary focus remains on previously launched CMEs still en route.

Past 24 hours in space weather

Solar wind: Solar wind conditions reflected the waning influence of a coronal hole’s high-speed solar wind stream, combined with the July 9 CME’s glancing arrival. Speeds steadily decreased to near normal. Meanwhile, the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) remained normal.

Bt, Bz and magnetic coupling: The Bz component spent much of the morning hours tilted southward. This configuration favors aurora because it opens Earth’s magnetic field to incoming solar wind energy. After midday, however, the Bz turned neutral to mostly northward, closing the door for auroral activity.

Earth’s magnetic field: The geomagnetic field ranged from quiet to G1 (minor) storm levels. The Kp index reached 4 (active) during the 9–12 UTC window on July 12, meeting the G1 threshold. Outside this interval, conditions stayed generally quiet to unsettled (Kp 1–3). By the end of the reporting period, the field had settled back to quiet levels.

The sun in recent days

Earlier sun images

Sun images from our community

We sometimes feature sun images obtained using hydrogen-alpha filters. Read why.

Bottom line: Sun news July 15, 2026: Far-side fireworks! The solar horizon is dancing with prominences, while departed sunspots keep flaring beyond the edge.

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