M2.3 solar flare from sunspot region 2172

Wednesday, 24 September 2014 11:03 UTC

The solar flare was associated with a 250 sfu Tenflare along with Type II (652 km/s) and Type IV radio sweeps. SOHO/LASCO coronagraph imagery is still missing a lot of frames which makes it hard to tell if there was a coronal mass ejection (CME) associated with this event. Numerous other coronal mass ejections have been visible in LASCO imagery during the past few days but they were all related to back side events. In the video below you will see the M2 solar flare but at the same time you can see another eruption from behind the limb. There might be more activity on the way from a sunspot region that we can not see yet! We will update this post when more LASCO frames become available.

Despite this M-class solar flare, sunspot region 2172 remains a relatively simple sunspot region but there has been some development of interest. It has developed a new negative polarity spot south of the large leader spot which is enough reason to give this region a Beta-Gamma classification. Another low-level M-class event is possible in the next 24 hours but the chances remain low.

M-class flare probability: 25% chance
X-class flare probability: 1% chance 

NOAA alerts related to the M2 solar flare

ALERT: Type IV Radio Emission
Begin Time: 2014 Sep 23 2340 UTC

ALERT: Type II Radio Emission
Begin Time: 2014 Sep 23 2314 UTC
Estimated Velocity: 652 km/s

SUMMARY: 10cm Radio Burst
Begin Time: 2014 Sep 23 2307 UTC
Maximum Time: 2014 Sep 23 2309 UTC
End Time: 2014 Sep 23 2312 UTC
Duration: 5 minutes
Peak Flux: 250 sfu
Latest Penticton Noon Flux: 138 sfu

Geomagnetic conditions

Geomagnetic conditions remain elevated as coronal hole effects continue. The direction of the IMF is still mostly south which is sparking aurora at high latitude locations. Aurora have been seen from latitudes like Scotland, southern New Zealand and even along the US-Canadian border. High latitude sky watchers need to remain alert for auroral outbreaks in the coming days. Unsettled (Kp3) to active (Kp4) geomagnetic conditions remain possible over the next 3 days.

Image: A modest display of the Aurora Borealis as seen last night from southern Scotland by Mark Ferrier.

Lunar transit as seen by SDO

Last but not least: the moon came in between SDO and the Sun today causing a solar eclipse only seen from space. This occured between 06:50 UTC and 07:20 UTC. Here are a couple of SDO images made in different wavelengths showing the Moon as it partially blocks the Sun. Always a stunning sight!

Images: NASA SDO.

UPDATE 14:45 UTC

SOHO/LASCO imagery is now complete and it is clear that the M2 solar flare released a CME that is directed east and away from Earth. There is also an eruption visible from behind the east-limb which makes an analysis difficult but neither of the eruptions are heading towards Earth.