Surprise M1.3 solar flare
Sunday, 7 August 2016 15:51 UTC
Solar activity increased surprisingly to moderate levels today thanks to an M1.3 (R1-minor) solar flare that took place at the NE limb.
NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) is still having issues with its AIA instrument so we will have to rely on secondary sources like PROBA2 or one of the GOES satellites for the time being. Using GOES-15 imagery, it looks like this M-class event (which was closely followed by an C8.5 solar flare) came from a sunspot region on the north-east limb. This is likely the return of sunspot region 2567 which produced seven M-class solar flares during the last solar rotation. Are we in for two weeks of enhanced solar activity. Lets hope so!
Surpise M1.3 and C8.5 solar flare from the NE limb. Perhaps the return of former active region 2567. pic.twitter.com/PQnwJXZiqJ
— SpaceWeatherLive (@_SpaceWeather_) 7 augustus 2016
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