Here are today’s solar images taken from Al Sadeem Observatory, September 11, 2017.
The sky was mostly clear with few clouds and less air turbulence, making the seeing and transparency average to good at the time these images were taken.
Though partially situated at the Sun’s far-side (just behind the western limb), AR2673 remained vigorous in solar activity; erupted a X8.2-class solar flare yesterday. Even it is not Earth-directed, this strong and extensive solar flare accompanied with a CME created a sharp proton, radiation, and x-ray fluxes which would generate a geomagnetic storm to take place on Sept 12-13, causing some radio and navigation satellite communications disruptions and bright aurora mostly at the polar regions.
Meanwhile, the visible sunspot groups (departing AR2674, AR2680) were quiet and magnetically stable without any major flaring activity recorded.
The latest sunspot number (based on visual count and Wolf number calculation) is 33.
With this stance, space weather agencies* forecast gradual ease in solar activity but shall remain at moderate to high levels (mainly because of the after-effects of the X8.2 flare) with chances of flares up to M-class intensity. The extent of the frequency and intensity of the Sun’s activity will highly depend on the magnetic flux fluctuations happening in the visible ARs in the coming days. Close monitoring is being conducted by numerous space weather agencies for any significant development.
*courtesy of Solar Influence Data Center (SIDC), NOAA-Space Weather Prediction Center (NOAA-SWPC)
