Possible Auroras This Weekend

Active sunspot 1401 erupted yesterday, Jan. 19th, for more than an hour around 16:00 UT.

The long-duration blast produced an M3-class solar flare and a Coronal Mass Ejection that appears to be heading toward Earth.

Forecasters say strong geomagnetic storms are possible when the cloud arrives during the late hours of Jan. 21st. High-latitude (and possibly middle-latitude) sky watchers should be alert for auroras this weekend.

The Solar and Heliospheric Observatory recorded the cloud expanding almost directly toward Earth:

Analysts at the Goddard Space Weather Lab say strong geomagnetic storms are possible when the cloud arrives this weekend. Their animated forecast track predicts an impact on Jan. 21st at 22:30 UT (+/- 7 hrs):

Click image for a larger view

The cloud is also heading for Mars, due to hit the Red Planet on Jan. 24th. NASA's Curiosity rover, en route to Mars now, is equipped to study solar storms and might be able to detect a change in the energetic particle environment when the CME passes by.

Coronal Mass Ejection Videos: NASA | Massive Solar Flare gets HD Close Up prev1234next Title NASA | Massive Solar Flare gets HD Close Up Runtime 1:20 Views 640,645 Posted 07 Mar 2012 Description Take a closer look at the flare that erupted on March 6, 2012. This movie of the... Title The comet and the coronal mass ejection Runtime 4:00 Views 24,263 Posted 04 Oct 2011 Description On October 1, 2011, a comet screamed into the Sun and presumably disintegrated. ... Title Spectacular Coronal Mass Ejection (2011.06.07) [720p] Runtime 0:21 Views 10,139 Posted 07 Jun 2011 Description The Sun unleashed an M-2 (medium-sized) solar flare with a substantial coronal m...

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Related posts:

1. A Solstice Solar Flare
2. Possible Minor Geomagnetic Storm
3. Eruption on the Sun Sends CME Toward Earth (Aurora Alert)
4. Coronal Mass Ejection May Hit Earth – Aurora Alert
5. Solar Activity Continues With Significant Flare

Tagged with: Cme • Coronal Mass Ejection • Curiosity • Duration • Earth • Energetic Particle • Forecast Track •

Filed under: The Sun

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