[Island Chris]

There is now an ongoing magnetic storm. Is red bars on the graph at link. It is not mentioned on the forecast right now. You can click the forecast at the link (but it will change). There was a briefer storm a couple of days ago, but otherwise is has been quiet for months, although I don't check this link daily.

http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/today.html

Chris

[Island Chris]

There has been an X4 (X3 to X5) solar flare: this is the largest I have noticed in a long time. The 3 day solar-geophysical forecast has not yet been updated since this flare, so don't know if there is a coronal mass ejection directed at earth: could be some magnetic storms and auroras coming up.
Chris

[Skywise]

(02-25-2014, 01:58 PM)Island Chris Wrote: There has been an X4 (X3 to X5) solar flare: this is the largest I have noticed in a long time. The 3 day solar-geophysical forecast has not yet been updated since this flare, so don't know if there is a coronal mass ejection directed at earth: could be some magnetic storms and auroras coming up.
Chris

The flare was on the limb of the Sun, so if it made a CME, it's very unlikely to affect the Earth.

Although when you start getting into xray flashes that bright, that alone starts affecting the earth.

Are you familiar with the Carrington Event?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_storm_of_1859

Brian

[Island Chris]

Well, I wasn't born yet, but yes, I've heard of that event. And, the new solar/geomagnetic forecast indeed does not predict much storming, if any.

Chris

[EQF]

This is another solar activity Web page that has charts that might be a little easier to interpret for people who are in a hurry.

http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/alerts/warnings_timeline.html