X1.2 solar flare

Wednesday, 29 March 2023 09:09 UTC

X1.2 solar flare

An impulsive solar flare peaking at the X1.2-class (R3-strong) took place today with the solar flare peaking at 02:33 UTC. Sunspot region 3256 (beta-gamma) which is close to the west limb is the source of this eruption. This region is currently located near the south-west solar limb.

A coronal mass ejection is visible in SOHO/LASCO C2 imagery but came from another eruption behind the west limb that took place just before the X1.2 solar flare peaked. The X1.2 solar flare itself does not seem like it produced a coronal mass ejection. None of the coronal mass ejections visible on LASCO imagery during the past few days have an earth-directed component.

 The coronal mass ejection from behind the west limb which is not aimed at Earth.
The coronal mass ejection from behind the west limb which is not aimed at Earth.

There was also a small coronal hole facing our planet yesterday but we expect little effect from it as it was very small in size. No geomagnetic storms storming is expected in the near future. The maximum expected Kp for the next 3 days is Kp4, active geomagnetic conditions.

Our Sun as seen by SDO in the 193 Ångström wavelength showing a small coronal hole.
Our Sun as seen by SDO in the 193 Ångström wavelength showing a small coronal hole.

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