Happy Autumnal Equinox

Happy autumnal equinox today for northern hemisphere residents

 (vernal for those in the southern)
occurs @ 10:49AM EDT/14:49UT

 At 14:49 UTC, 2012 is the earliest the September Equinox has occurred since 1896, but will be beaten by 28 minutes in 2016!      

Region 1573 reappeared yesterday after two days without visible spots
All groups decreased in size yesterday. The largest region is still region 1575 and is still a EKO Beta type group.
No C class solar flares took place yesterday. The largest solar flare was a B8 peaking at 1221z from region 1573. Only occasional C class solar flares are expected today

Sunspot 1520 LDE Solar Flare In Progress - July 17, 2012

Starting today at around 13:15 UTC a LDE (long duration event) solar flare began around sunspot 1520. This event is still in progress at this time with it reaching a M1.7 level thus far  

 

There was a large bright CME seen in association with this LDE Flare

It is unsure at this time if this CME will be geoeffective or not

CME from July 12th X Flare Has Arrived

   Here comes the CME! OK OK we have something here everyone. After waiting all night, the 1st signs of the much anticipated CME from July 12, 2012 X flare are now showing up on ACE. A mid latitude aurora watch is in effect

SWPC Alert:

Issue Time: 2012 Jul 14 1736 UTC
WARNING: Geomagnetic Sudden Impulse expected
Valid From: 2012 Jul 14 1800 UTC
Valid To: 2012 Jul 14 1830 UTC
IP Shock Passage Observed: 2012 Jul 14 1728 UTC

Solar winds and density @ ACE just jumped by over 200Km/sec and density is increasing

Solar conditions at ACE went from....
ACE Solar Conditions @ 16:59 UTC-
July 14, 2012
Solar Wind Speed : 384.1
Density: 4.9
Bz: -5.0

to what it is right now...
ACE Solar Conditions @ 17:33 UTC-
 July 14, 2012
Solar Wind Speed : 518.7
Density: 5.7
Bz: -15.2

The front of the CME has arrived at Boulder

Be on the lookout for Auroras at high latitudes

Issue Time: 2012 Jul 14 1817 UTC
SUMMARY: Geomagnetic Sudden Impulse
Observed: 2012 Jul 14 1811 UTC
Deviation: 27 nT
Station: Boulder



Continue to check back often for further updates and alerts as today's solar events unfold.
All updates will be added to the bottom of this report

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

UPDATE @ 09:45 UTC July 15, 2012

Ace Solar Conditions @ 09:22 UTC-
July 15, 2012
Solar Wind Speed : 578.7 Km/s
Density 1.1
Bz -16.0

   Space Weather Message Code: ALTK06
Serial Number: 287
Issue Time: 2012 Jul 15 0754 UTC

ALERT: Geomagnetic K-index of 6
Threshold Reached: 2012 Jul 15 0748 UTC
Synoptic Period: 0600-0900 UTC
Active Warning: Yes
NOAA Scale: G2 - Moderate
Potential Impacts: Area of impact primarily poleward of 55 degrees Geomagnetic Latitude.
Induced Currents - Power grid fluctuations can occur. High-latitude power systems may experience voltage alarms.
Spacecraft - Satellite orientation irregularities may occur; increased drag on low Earth-orbit satellites is possible.
Radio - HF (high frequency) radio propagation can fade at higher latitudes.
Aurora - Aurora may be seen as low as New York to Wisconsin to Washington state.

                                                 UPDATE @ 02:41 UTC July 15, 2012

ACE Solar Conditions @ 05:29 UTC-
 July 15, 2012
Solar Wind Speed : 605.7 Km/sec
Density: 29.8.3
Bz: -4.0

UPDATE @ 02:41 UTC July 15, 2012

Solar wind speed, density and the Bz have been fluctuating up and down since this CME arrived earlier today. Right now, we see another rise in wind speed and density and the Bz just dipped south.

ACE Solar Conditions @ 02:31 UTC-
July 15, 2012
Solar Wind Speed : 660.6 Km/sec
Density: 12.0
Bz: -9.6

Everyone please keep in mind that this CME has only arrived at 17:28 UTC July 14

That was around 9hrs ago. This CME is forecasted to remain geoeffective for around 30hrs

We still have many hours left before this CME has completely passed by Earth.

We will keep watch for any significant changes and report accordingly as to any changes :) 

Added ACE data update:
Solar wind speed just jumped to 759.1 Km/sec


ACE Solar Conditions @ 03:13 UTC-
July 15, 2012
Solar Wind Speed : 759.1 Km/sec
Density: 13.3
Bz: +5.6

LDE X Flare In Progress - Sunspot 1520 - July 12, 2012

   We  have a LDE (long duration event) X flare in progress. Starting at a C4.7 @ 16:11 UTC, The X ray flux peaked at a X1.4 @  16:52 UTC. .This LDE X flare is from Sunspot 1520.  Sunspot region 1520 is directly Earth facing today.
X1.4 Flare on 7/12/2012 @ 16:52 UTC - Sunspot 1520
- LDE lasting 5hrs
- CME produced- Earth Directed -
- ETA: We calculated the time of arrival around 06:00  UTC July 14th
+/- 4hrs



Continue to check back often for further updates and alerts as today's solar events unfold.
All updates will be added to the bottom of this report

Update @ 22:16 UTC July 12, 2012

After review of today's CME on STEREO A and STEREO B, we set the calculated  time of arrival around 06:00 UTC July 14th (+/- 4hrs.)
Moderate to severe geomagnetic storm activity reaching G2-G4 (Kp 6-8) will be possible at that time. We will continue to review data and will report on any changes we may find.

## NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Space Weather Center ( SWC )
## Message Type: Space Weather Alert##
## Message Issue Date: 2012-07-12T19:37:00Z
## Message ID: 20120712-AL-005

## Alert Summary:

Type O CME detected by STEREO-B COR2.

Start time of the event: 2012-07-12T16:54Z (STEREO-B-COR2).

Based on rough estimates (only STEREO-B-COR2 images are available currently) the CME parameters are:

Estimated speed: ~1400 km/s.

Estimated opening half-angle: ~ 70 deg.

Direction (lon./lat.): -6/-17 in Heliocentric Earth Ecliptic coordinates.

The CME is associated with the X1.4 flare peaked at 2012-07-12T16:52Z (see alert 20120712-AL-001).

All spacecraft between the source region (AR 1520 - S15W01) and Earth (including MEO, GEO and other high-altitude orbits and high-inclination LEO) can be impacted. Updates on this event will be provided when available


* As a result of todays X flare and associated CME there is a S1 solar radiation storm in progress

Issue Time: 2012 Jul 12 1851 UTC
ALERT: Proton Event 10MeV Integral Flux exceeded 10pfu
Begin Time: 2012 Jul 12 1835 UTC
NOAA Scale: S1 - Minor
Potential Impacts: Radio - Minor impacts on polar HF (high frequency) radio propagation resulting in fades at lower frequencies.

Update from SWPC:

2012-07-12 19:31 UTC Solar Eruption Today -- Further Analysis

The R3 (Strong) Radio Blackout today at 12:49 EDT (1649 UTC) was accompanied by an earth-directed CME. Hampered by limited observations of the event, SWPC forecasters are now anticipating the passage of the CME around 1:00 a.m. EDT, Saturday, July 14. G1 (minor) Geomagnetic Storm activity is expected to then ensue through the rest of the day. An S1 (minor) Solar Radiation Storm is now occurring, also a consequence of the flare/CME. The parent active region, NOAA 1520, appears to have retained its ability to erupt, so watch for more