X1.9 solar flare
Monday, 9 January 2023 19:34 UTC
A lot of sunspots on our Sun today which is a promising start for what should be an exciting 2023 when it comes to solar activity. Sunspot region 3181 and 3182 both have complex magnetic layouts with magnetic delta sunspots and both regions have the potential to produce M-class events. It is however sunspot region 3184 near the limb that steals the show today with the second strongest solar flare of Solar Cycle 25 thus far.
Incoming sunspot region 3184 produced a rather impulsive X1.98 solar flare peaking at 18:50 UTC. The solar flare is strong yes but first imagery suggest it is not eruptive and likely no or very little ejecta left the Sun. This is for sure a region to keep an eye on in the days ahead as it rotates into a more earth-facing position but do not forget about regions 3181 and 3182 which also have the potential to produce an earth-directed eruption in the next 24 to 48 hours.
A promising start of 2023 for our Sun as she has just produced the second strongest solar flare (X1.98) of the current Solar Cycle. Incoming sunspot region 3184 was its source. The solar flare was impulsive and little to no ejecta likely left the Sun. pic.twitter.com/mE5fJOI9kl
— SpaceWeatherLive (@_SpaceWeather_) January 9, 2023
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Space weather facts
| Last X-flare | 2024/03/28 | X1.1 |
| Last M-flare | 2024/04/27 | M3.0 |
| Last geomagnetic storm | 2024/04/26 | Kp5+ (G1) |
| Spotless days | |
|---|---|
| Last spotless day | 2022/06/08 |
| Monthly mean Sunspot Number | |
|---|---|
| March 2024 | 104.9 -19.8 |
| Last 30 days | 137.7 +30.3 |