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X class flare 1.6


NaoPos

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I'm not real good with these things, but I know an x class flare earth directed can be disruptive. Sorry if this is in the wrong thread :

X-FLARE: Earth-orbiting satellites have just detected a powerful X1.6-class solar flare (Sept. 10 @ 17:46 UT). The source was active sunspot AR2158, which is directly facing Earth. NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory recorded the extreme ultraviolet flash:

http://spaceweather.com

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Got to wait and see if we have an Earth direct CME in order to know if we will get an awesome aurora show or not.

more on it :

 

"Initial information suggests that CME is likely associated with this event, but further analysis is underway at this time," the National Weather Service's Space Weather Prediction Center reported on its Facebook page.

 

http://www.nbcnews.com/science/space/solar-storm-warning-sun-shoots-x-flare-outburst-earth-n200321

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How does this CME compare to previous events? Without context, it's challenging to become concerned or excited.

No CME confirmed yet... the flare itself and parent active region are nothing unprecedented (not even in the top-10 x-ray events of the solar cycle). What's noteworthy is the geoeffectiveness of the sunspot. Any CME will most likely be squarely aimed at us. Even so, nothing unprecedented.

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When will this aurora peak?

The SWPC model calls for peak solar winds sometime Friday night, but given the high speed/inherent uncertainty of the CME, the solar storm could strike at any point between tomorrow morning and Saturday night I would think.

 

Unfortunately, it looks to me like the bulk of the plasma is headed north of our planet, which should prevent any historical aurora shows. Still on track to be the best event in a couple years, though.

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"Later, however, Young sent Sky & Telescope an update: the CME's initial velocity was less than initially thought, about 875 miles (1,400 km) per second. Therefore, the shock front now crossing interplanetary space should reach Earth on Friday at about 12h Universal Time (5 a.m. Pacific Daylight Time). The SWPC's predicted geomagnetic disturbance is G3, a medium-intensity level that could trigger auroras over locations roughly northward of latitude 45° north (Oregon, Illinois, New England, and northern Europe). - See more at: http://www.skyandtelescope.com/astronomy-news/observing-news/powerful-solar-flare-091020143/#sthash.GIwuSUlZ.dpuf"

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For anyone interested, here's a hotlinked Kp index graph:

 

Kp.gif

 

And here's a map showing the minimum Kp index usually required for naked-eye aurora activity at a given location:

 

globeNW.gif

 

My guess is we top out around Kp 7, which would still be impressive, and probably sufficient for folks as far south as Long Island, Kansas City, Crater Lake, etc. to see auroral hues along the northern horizon (especially when aided by a camera). The usual suspects (northern Plains, UP of Michigan, Mt. Washington) will do well in a Kp 6 or 7 event. Now we just have to hope there's sufficient geomagnetic storming, and it arrives during the nighttime, and the weather is clear, etc...

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Kp up to 6 now for the first time with this event.  Aurora should be better tonight than last night.

Down to 5 again per http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/wingkp/wingkp_list.txt and it seems like solar winds are losing momentum. Not seeing any noteworthy reports from the dark side of the earth, save the usual suspects like Iceland. :(

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