Post by Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe on Jan 19, 2012 17:28:03 GMT -6
Solar blast heading our way
20 & 21 January 2012
20 & 21 January 2012
Not a massive outburst, but a CME has blasted off the surface of the Sun and is heading in our direction....
EARTH-DIRECTED SOLAR FLARE:
Active sunspot 1401 erupted today, Jan. 19th, between 15:15 and 16:30 UT. The long-duration blast produced an M3-class solar flare and a CME that appears to be heading toward Earth. This movie from the Solar Dynamics Observatory shows the extreme UV flash:
NASA's twin STEREO spacecraft recorded an impressive CME emerging from the blast site: movie #1, movie #2. Analysts at the Goddard Space Weather Lab confirm that the CME is heading for Earth, and they say strong geomagnetic storms are possible (although not guaranteed) when the cloud arrives this weekend. Their animated forecast track predicts an impact on Jan. 21st at 22:30 UT (+/- 7 hrs).
I recognize the same sunspot area and the "ArrowHead" from my full aperture Solar Filter test of recent...
If clear this weekend, look for slight hints of Auroral activity, especially for our Chicago Astronomer members in the far west suburbs.
...
But weather forecast doesn't look good.
Reports of sightings are welcomed.
