Limb eruption, S1 radiation storm, sunspot region 2371

Thursday, 18 June 2015 12:23 UTC

A closer look at imagery from SOHO reveals that the coronal mass ejection is not aimed at Earth which was to be expected considering the source location of this event. Coronagraph imagery show that the coronal mass ejection which leaves the Sun at a speed of about 650km/s only forms a partial halo that will pass well south-west of Earth.

Image: SOHO/LASCO C2 difference image showing the coronal mass ejection of this morning.

The eruption also caused a minor S1 solar radiation storm here at Earth which is still in progress at this time. This is nothing to be concerned about as it only affects HF radio signals through polar regions.

Note that this eruption also surged the low energy protons and electrons at ACE. This is caused by this morning eruption and does not indicate that the coronal mass ejection is directed at Earth.

Sunspot region 2371

We understand that amazing eruptions like these beg the question: could there be more eruptions like these in store for us?

Answer: maybe.

There is a sunspot region on the earth-facing disk right now which is moderately complex and that is sunspot region 2371. This sunspot region is showing signs of growth and is already a Beta-Gamma sunspot region. A closer look at SDO imagery shows however that a Beta-Gamma-Delta classification can already be made. An M-class (R1-R2) solar flare from this sunspot region is very much possible in the coming days. 

Images: SDO/HMI images showing the (magnetic) layout of sunspot region 2371.