Sun news September 15: Strong X flare and fast eruption!

Sun news September 15: Strong X flare and fast eruption!

Today’s top story: An X4.5 flare erupted late yesterday (around 15:29 UTC on September 14) from the new kid on the block, sunspot region AR3825. This region has just rotated onto the Earth-facing solar disk. The event released a fast CME, a burp of sun-stuff that – combined with an earlier M1 flare from over the sun’s southeat limb – should reach Earth on September 16. In other words, yesterday’s fast CME will overtake the slower one, becoming what’s called a cannibal CME. Meanwhile, on Earth, we’ve had half a week or so of geomagnetic storming. And the arrival of the September 13 and September 14 CMEs are likely to increase conditions to G3 (strong) storm levels. Combined CME/coronal hole effects should persist into September 17, giving us G2 (moderate) geomagnetic storm conditions (probably). Stay tuned for more.
Last 24 hours: Sun activity is high, thanks to the X4.5 flare – the day’s largest flare – at 15:29 UTC on September 14 from sunspot region AR3825. It caused an R3 (strong) radio blackout affecting an area over Eastern South America. Otherwise, we saw only C flares during our observation period (11 UTC yesterday to 11 UTC today). The X flare made AR3825 lead flare producer; it had six flares in all, the X and five C flares. Two large coronal holes are now in a geoeffective position. Earth should start receiving fast solar wind beginning tomorrow, September 15. Bring it on, auroras!
Next 24 hours: The chance for C flares is 99%. The chance for M flares is 60%. The chance for X flares is 15%.
Next expected CME: A coronal mass ejection (CME) from an M1 flare just around the east limb and one associated with the X4.5 flare left the sun around 4:31 and 15:19 UTC respectively on September 14. Analysis of these CMEs indicates an Earth-directed component is likely for both. The first CME will likely be overcome by the second, larger CME (called a cannibal CME) as they make their way to Earth. The anticipated arrival time looks to be around midday on September 16.
Current geomagnetic activity: At the time of this writing (11 UTC on September 15), Earth’s magnetic field is active. Unsettled-to-active levels are expected for the rest of today due to lingering influence from the September 11 CME. By midday tomorrow (September 16), influences from high-speed solar wind from a coronal hole, combined with the arrival of the September 13 and September 14 CMEs, are likely to increase conditions to G3 (strong) storm levels. Combined CME/coronal hole effects should persist into September 17, with G2 (moderate) geomagnetic storm conditions likely.

X flare!!! ???Excitement on the ?!! X4.5 flare around 15:28 UTC from the new kid on the block AR3825 and there appears to be an eruption of stuff. Anything coming our way? Waiting to find out
MORE later at https://t.co/xD29wLfm4e pic.twitter.com/xcHbUfxf23

— Dr. C. Alex Young (@TheSunToday) September 14, 2024

Sun news update September 14: X Flare! Excitement on the sun

UPDATE. An X4.5 flare erupted following the end of our usual observation period at 15:28 UTC on September 14. It came from the new kid on the block, AR3825. Stay tuned to see if sun stuff will be heading our way.
Today’s top news. Coronal mass ejections (CMEs) – or explosions of sun stuff – just keep coming. And they aren’t just heading toward Earth. One launched from the side of the sun yesterday is headed straight at Mercury and its orbiting spacecraft, BepiColombo. The CME may also make a glancing blow at Mars. At Earth, the expected geomagnetic storming from a CME arrived late yesterday and earlier today. We expected a G1 (minor) geomagnetic storm, but the storm reached G2 (moderate) levels. The geomagnetic storming hit the Kp = 6 threshold at 22:44 UTC on September 13 and lasted for a three-hour period last night in the U.S. and Canada. Auroral displays would have been possible as far south as Montana and Washington and the boundary of northern Wyoming. Did you see the auroras? Share those beautiful photos with us.
Last 24 hours: Our star returned to moderate solar activity with four small M flares over the past day. Flaring production also decreased to nine flares compared to yesterday’s 19 flares. The sun produced the four M and five C flares, all occurring during our observation period between 11 UTC yesterday to 11 UTC today. The largest flare of the day was an M3.0 flare at 7:41 UTC on September 14 from active region AR3825 in the southeast. It caused an R1 (minor) radio blackout affecting an area over the Arabian Sea, west of the Maldives. The lead flare producer was active region AR3825 with six flares, three M and three C flares. The list of the M flares is:
• M1.3 at 15:12 UTC on September 13 from AR3811. R1 (minor) radio blackout over the Atlantic Ocean off the north coast of Brazil.
• M1.4 at 17:56 UTC on September 13 from behind the SE limb. R1 (minor) radio blackout over the Pacific Ocean off the west coast of Colombia.
• M1.1 at 20:49 UTC on September 13 from behind the SE limb. R1 (minor) radio blackout over the Pacific Ocean southeast of Hawaii.
• M3.0 at 7:41 UTC on September 14 from AR3825. R1 (minor) radio blackout over the Arabian Sea, west of the Maldives.
The sun has six labeled active regions. Most of the numbered active regions on the solar disk decayed to an alpha or beta configuration, but yesterday’s newcomer on the southeast limb (edge), AR3825, has an interesting beta-gamma-delta magnetic complexity. Two large coronal holes are now in a geoeffective position. Earth should start receiving fast solar wind beginning tomorrow, September 15. Bring ’em on, auroras!

Northern Lights over the city of Östersund, #Sweden

Last night was just crazy good with some really colorful and strong Northern Lights.

Nikon Z9 with Nikon Z 14-24mm f/2,8 S@NikonEurope #NorthernLights #Aurora #Norrsken pic.twitter.com/qtEGInYZQs

— Göran Strand (@Astrofotografen) September 13, 2024

The aurora is going CRAZY in Kiruna, Sweden as CME effects continue! pic.twitter.com/w1VfJe1ub7

— Landon Moeller (@landon_wx) September 13, 2024

The Northern lights over Stonehenge this morning ??? Photo credit Nick Bull ?#aurora #auroraborealis #northernlights #beautiful #night #september #autumn #SolarMaximum pic.twitter.com/7D8NjJ3RQt

— Stonehenge U.K (@ST0NEHENGE) September 13, 2024

Early hours of 13/09/24 on banton Loch – superb to see & worth being like a burst cushion today after getting to bed sometime after 5am #Scotland #aurora #kilsyth @TamithaSkov @StormHour pic.twitter.com/RMhs7TcQf2

— Cat Perkinton (@catperkinton) September 13, 2024

Sun news September 13: Burst of auroras, more tonight?

Observers at high latitudes witnessed a powerful burst of geomagnetic storming over the past 24 hours. We saw G3 (strong) geomagnetic storm levels. The blast to our magnetic field came from chunks of sun-stuff – coronal mass ejections, aka CMEs – that left the sun on September 8 and 10. Conditions for G1 (minor) geomagnetic storming are expected for the rest of the day today through tomorrow, September 14. At the time of this writing, a Kp = 4 is ongoing. Bring those cameras out for those beautiful photos. Did you see the auroras last night? Please share your beautiful photos with us.
Last 24 hours: Solar activity was high over the past day, with eight M flares including three greater than M5. Between 11 UTC yesterday to 11 UTC today, our star produced 19 flares, eight M and 11 C flares. There were three M flares larger than M5; the largest was an M6.9 flare at 14:43 UTC on September 12 from AR3811. The lead flare producer of the period was active region AR3811, which produced 11 flares, five M and six C flares. The list of the  M flares is:
• M1.2 at 13:21 UTC on September 12 from AR3811. R1 (minor) radio blackout over the Atlantic Ocean.
• M6.9 a 14:43 UTC on September 12 from AR3811. R2 (moderate) radio blackout over the Atlantic Ocean north of Brazil. The largest.
• M1.6 at 15:06 UTC on September 12 from AR3825. R1 (minor) radio blackout off the north coast of Brazil.
• M2.1 at 22:27 UTC on September 12 from AR3825. R1 (minor) radio blackout in the middle of the Pacific Ocean south of Hawaii.
• M1.7 at 1:37 UTC on September 13 from AR3811. R1 (minor) radio blackout in the middle of the Philippine Sea.
• M5.3 at 6:56 UTC on September 13 from AR3811. R2 (moderate) radio blackout over the Arabian Sea.
• M5.2 at 7:08 UTC on September 13 from AR3811. R2 (moderate) radio blackout over the Arabian Sea.
• M2.9 at 8:37 UTC on September 13 from AR3825. R1 (minor) radio blackout over the Arabian Sea off the east coast of Somalia.
A group of active regions is now departing in the solar southwest, soon to be carried out of view by the sun’s rotation. One of them AR3811, the lead flare producer of the past day, provided a show with flares, jets, and prominences. AR3814 is the largest active region on the sun’s Earth-facing disk now. It’s also the only active region with beta-gamma-delta magnetic complexity, indicating a potential for strong flaring. The sun has seven active regions on the Earth-facing disk. Note: AR3825 is not on our daily image below, as it was labeled after the image was produced. By the way, one of the two large coronal holes we’ve been observing will move into a geoeffective position beginning around September 15, meaning we’ll start receiving its fast solar wind at Earth, for more possible auroral displays.

South Indian Lake, Manitoba, gave me an unforgettable aurora experience tonight 9/12/24

So glad I caught that intense red glow just in time! Didn’t let the rain forecast for tomorrow get me down! #AuroraBorealis #ManitobaMagic @theauroraguy #aurora #northernlights #solarstorm pic.twitter.com/mk2GDxOqsP
— Rj Roldan ™ ? (@rjayroldan) September 12, 2024

Early this morning I went aurora chasing for 3 hours along highway 4, looking for a gap in the fog & clouds. I found 15 minutes worth of this wild & crazy sky (condensed into this time lapse)! #vancouverisland pic.twitter.com/1PClsibfdv

— David McColm (@davidlmccolm) September 12, 2024

With just minutes to spare. I arrived at the only clear beach in my area, mukilteo. I got to focus stacking this drift wood log right before the arc erupted into some of the best naked eye reds I’ve seen yet! #solarstorm #aurora #pnw pic.twitter.com/hkQbtOwUMD

— mark stewart (@StewarrMark) September 13, 2024

The pinks were very vibrant last night in Fairbanks, Alaska. Here are just a couple shots. pic.twitter.com/O4UOFvfWr5

— Vincent Ledvina (@Vincent_Ledvina) September 12, 2024

Sun news September 12: X flare earlier today

After a relatively slow week … X flare this morning! It was an X1.3 at 8:43 UTC on September 12 from the southeast limb (edge). This flare produced an R3 (strong) radio blackout affecting an area over Eastern Africa, Uganda.

Last 24 hours: Overall, the sun produced the X flare – and more M flares than C flares in the past day (11 UTC yesterday to 11 UTC today) – bringing solar activity to high. The sun produced 19 flares, an X, 10 Ms and eight C flares. The lead flare producer of the period was active region AR3811, which produced seven flares, five M, and two C flares. The list of the X and M flares is:
M1.8 at 12:36 UTC on September 11 from AR3814. R1 (minor) radio blackout over Liberia.
M1.4 at 15:18 UTC on September 11 from AR3811. R1 (minor) radio blackout over the Atlantic Ocean off northeast coast of Suriname.
M1.9 at 15:30 UTC on September 11 from an unnumbered region in the southeast. R1 (minor) radio blackout over Suriname.
M1.6 at 17:26 UTC on September 11 from AR3811. R1 (minor) radio blackout over the Pacific Ocean off the west coast of Colombia.
M2.0 at 17:52 UTC on September 11 from AR3814. R1 (minor) radio blackout over Pacific Ocean north of Puerto Ayora.
M5.0 at 0:12 UTC on September 12 from AR43811. R1 (minor) radio blackout over the Pacific Ocean.
M1.0 at 4:04 UTC on September 12 from AR3811. R1 (minor) radio blackout over South China Sea.
M1.2 at 4.32 UTC on September 12 from AR3815. R1 (minor) radio blackout over Malaysia.
M2.7 at 6:18 UTC on September 12 from AR3811. R1 (minor) radio blackout over the Indian Ocean southeast of Sri Lanka.
X1.3 at 9:43 UTC on September 12 from unnumbered active region on the southeast. R3 (strong) radio blackout over Uganda.
Active region AR3814 is the largest in extent on the sun’s Earth-facing disk. It’s the only one with beta-gamma-delta magnetic complexity, indicating a potential for strong flaring. The sun has eight active regions on the Earth-facing disk. We continue to observe two large coronal holes on the solar disk. Soon, they will move into a geoeffective position, meaning they’ll be capable of sending their fast solar wind to Earth, perhaps enhancing auroral displays.

Sun news September 11: Sun-stuff headed our way

A blob of solar material and magnetic fields is coming our way. Yesterday’s M1.2 flare from AR3814 produced a full halo event – an event which suggests sun-stuff might be headed toward Earth – and indeed a component of the coronal mass ejection (CME) is now confirmed via computer models (like the ENLIL model shown on this page) to be heading to Earth. Arrival is expected by late September 12 bringing conditions for a G1 to G2 (mild to moderate) geomagnetic storm. The effects could be extended up to September 13. NOAA issued an alert for possible auroral displays to be seen in high north latitudes as far south as the states of New York and Wisconsin in the U.S. Stay tuned!
Last 24 hours: Low flaring production characterized the past day (11 UTC yesterday to 11 UTC today), but two faint M flares kept solar activity at moderate levels. Over the past day, during our observation period between 11 UTC yesterday to 11 UTC today, the sun produced 11 flares, two M and nine C flares. The largest was an M1.6 flare produced at 15:47 UTC on September 10. It came from active region AR3806. An R1 (minor) radio blackout affected an area over the Atlantic Ocean. The second M flare of the period was an M1.0 at 23:50 UTC on September 10 from AR3814. It produced an R1 (minor) radio blackout over the Pacific Ocean southwest of Hawaii. The lead flare producer of the period was sunspot region AR3820 with four C flares. Active region AR3814 is the largest in extent and the only one with beta-gamma-delta magnetic complexity. The remaining labeled active regions show simpler alpha and mostly beta configurations. The sun has eight sunspot regions on its Earth-facing side. We continue to observe the two large coronal holes on the solar disk. Soon, they will move into a geoeffective position, meaning they’ll be capable of sending their fast solar wind to Earth, perhaps enhancing auroral displays.

Sun news September 10: Storms and filaments

Sun activity has been moderate in the past day (11 UTC yesterday to 11 UTC today), with three M flares. And we’re having fun watching filaments on the sun’s disk – glowing ropes of solar material and magnetic fields, arcing up from the sun’s visible surface – as we wait today for possible geomagnetic storms at Earth. The sun’s disk is covered with filaments now, which could bring some eruptions. We also see prominences – the same thing as filaments, but seen on the sun’s limb (edge) – extending into space from the sun’s north and south poles. Meanwhile, a coronal mass ejection (CME) that left the sun on September 8 is expected at Earth today. This anticipated arrival should bring geomagnetic storms at the level of G1 to G2 (mild to moderate). Depending on when the CME arrives – and which part of Earth is experiencing darkness at that time – you might get auroras. Get your aurora watching gear ready, and stay tuned.
Last 24 hours: Solar activity is moderate. In the last 24 hours the sun produced nine flares, three M and six C flares. The largest was an M3.4 at 17:08 UTC on September 9 from active region AR3814. The blast caused an R1 (minor) radio blackout affecting an area over the Caribbean Sea off the north coast of Colombia.
The list of M flares is:
• M1.0 at 12:17 UTC on September 9 from AR3811. R1 (minor) radio blackout over Ghana.
• M3.4 at 17:08 UTC on September 9 from AR3814. R1 (minor) radio blackout over the Caribbean Sea off the north coast of Colombia.
• M1.2 at 0:16 UTC on September 10 from AR3814. R1 (minor) radio blackout over the Pacific Ocean.
Only sunspot region AR3814 kept its beta-gamma magnetic complexity. The remaining labeled active regions show simpler alpha and mostly beta configurations. The sun has nine sunspot regions on its Earth-facing side. We welcomed a newcomer, AR3822. It emerged in the northeast quadrant east of AR3814. Two large coronal holes also emerged on the Earth-facing side of our star, one in the northeast quadrant and the second in the southeast.

Sun news September 9: Activity picking up?

After a quiet weekend, things may be picking up. Over the past 24 hours (11 UTC yesterday to 11 UTC today), we’ve had four M flares (moderately strong flares), along with nine C-class (lesser) events. Also, one of the flares just over the sun’s western limb (edge) – either AR3806 or AR3807 – caused a solar particle event, also known as a radiation storm. This is an event in which solar particles, mostly protons, become accelerated in the sun’s atmosphere. The M1.1 flare causing the event happened around 3:30 UTC on September 9. High energy protons reached S1 (minor) radiation storm levels. At the time of this writing (11 UTC on September 9), the solar particles are causing additional radio communications disruptions near the North and South Poles on Earth. The flare and particle event had an associated eruption, producing a coronal mass ejection (CME) toward the west. The CME does not appear to have an Earth-directed component, but we await additional coronagraph imagery. Another eruption occurred off the sun’s northeast limb (edge), just behind the limb. This event, also, doesn’t to have an Earth-directed component, but we will need to wait for more data. Stay tuned.
Last 24 hours: Activity has picked up in the last 24 hours, reaching moderate levels, with four small M flares. It is difficult to determine exactly which active region is the source for the flares on the sun’s limb, because two regions are just over the southwest limb (edge): AR3806, AR3807, and AR3808. These regions produced three of the four flares including the one with the associated solar particle event and radiation storm. The sun produced 13 flares, four M and nine C flares.
The list of M flares is:
• M1.6 at 15:30 UTC on September 8 from AR3811. R1 (minor) radio blackout over the northeastern tip of South America.
• M1.0 at 03:31 UTC on September 9 from AR3806/07/08. R1 (minor) radio blackout over Indonesia.
• M1.9 at 05:45 UTC on September 9 from AR3806/07/08. R1 (minor) radio blackout over Southeast Asia.
• M1.5 at 08:50 UTC on September 9 from AR3806/07/08. R1 (minor) radio blackout over East Africa.
• M1.5 at 08:50 UTC on September 9 from AR3806/07/08. R1 (minor) radio blackout over East Africa.
Only AR3811 and AR3814 have beta-gamma magnetic complexity. The sun has nine regions on the disk.

The sun in recent days

Sun images from our community

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Bottom line: Sun news for September 15: New sunspot region AR3825 produced an X4.5 flare around 15:29 UTC yesterday. There’s a large eruption of sun stuff on its way.