M9.2 solar flare from sunspot region 2297

Saturday, 7 March 2015 23:20 UTC

Strong M9.28 solar #flare from #sunspot region 12297 - Follow live on http://t.co/XHATH0OOfT pic.twitter.com/An7lguk2bd

— SpaceWeatherLive (@_SpaceWeather_) 7 maart 2015

Image: Difference imagery from NASA SDO showing coronal dimming, a sign that a coronal mass ejection was launched.

Image: Latest SOHO/LASCO C2 image showing a bright coronal mass ejection leaving the blast site.

A solar radiation storm is not expected as this sunspot region is not located in a prime position to cause such an event and this coronal mass ejection will also certainly not come directly towards Earth. We will have to wait for more coronagraph imagery before we can make a definitive conclusion regarding the exact trajectory of this CME. A glancing blow could be expected at most but it is also possible that the plasma cloud will miss Earth completly.

NOAA SWPC alerts

ALERT: X-Ray Flux exceeded M5
Threshold Reached: 2015 Mar 07 2203 UTC
NOAA Scale: R2 - Moderate

ALERT: Type II Radio Emission
Begin Time: 2015 Mar 07 2157 UTC
Estimated Velocity: 704 km/s

ALERT: Type IV Radio Emission
Begin Time: 2015 Mar 07 2204 UTC

SUMMARY: 10cm Radio Burst
Begin Time: 2015 Mar 07 2236 UTC
Maximum Time: 2015 Mar 07 2239 UTC
End Time: 2015 Mar 07 2246 UTC
Duration: 10 minutes
Peak Flux: 260 sfu
Latest Penticton Noon Flux: 138 sfu

SUMMARY: X-ray Event exceeded M5
Begin Time: 2015 Mar 07 2145 UTC
Maximum Time: 2015 Mar 07 2222 UTC
End Time: 2015 Mar 07 2258 UTC
X-ray Class: M9.2
Location: S19E60
NOAA Scale: R2 - Moderate

We will provide more news regarding this solar flare and it's coronal mass ejection tomorrow as more coronagraph imagery becomes available. Keep an eye on this website!