First M Flare of 2013!

After what seamed like an eternity of no moderate solar flares, the Sun came back to life today with the first M flare of 2013!
A M1.7 Solar Flare occurred early this morning peaking at 09:31 UTC from a unnamed region that lays just over the Eastern (left) limb of the sun.
This  region will be rotating into a Earth facing position over the next few days.

NOAA forecasters estimate a 25% chance of M-class eruptions and a 5% chance of X-flares during the next 24 hours. - SpaceWeather

The last M+ Solar Flare we had was on Nov 28, 2012
Click Here to view full updated Solar Flare list
 

X1.8 Solar Flare From Sunspot 1598

We just had a X1.8 Solar Flare from sunspot region 1598 peaking at 03:17 UTC Oct 23, 2012

It would appear that sunspot region 1598 might not fizzle out as it turns into a more Earth facing position as most sunspots have done in the past months. Lets hang in there to see if sunspot 1598 has more in the offering in the days to come






SDO EVE X Flare - Oct 23, 2012

Long duration C1 flare+Prominence lift off

http://cesar.kso.ac.at/main/last_Ha.php

Still three regions visible.
Largest region so far: 1575 which is a EHO Beta-Gamma type group at 260 millionths in size, which is slightly down from the previous day.
Region 1577 increased from 20 to 100 millionths and is a DAI Beta type group.

 

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