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Solar wind
speed: 544.3 km/sec
density: 1.1 protons/cm3
explanation | more data
Updated: Today at 2347 UT
X-ray Solar Flares
6-hr max: C5
2225 UT Apr26
24-hr: C7
0627 UT Apr26
explanation | more data
Updated: Today at: 2300 UT
Daily Sun: 26 Apr 13
Sunspot AR1726 has a delta-class magnetic field that poses a continued threat for X-class flares. Credit: SDO/HMI
Sunspot number: 93
What is the sunspot number?
Updated 26 Apr 2013

Spotless Days
Current Stretch: 0 days
2013 total: 0 days (0%)
2012 total: 0 days (0%)
2011 total: 2 days (<1%)
2010 total: 51 days (14%)
2009 total: 260 days (71%)
Since 2004: 821 days
Typical Solar Min: 486 days

Update
26 Apr 2013

The Radio Sun
10.7 cm flux: 119 sfu
explanation | more data
Updated 26 Apr 2013

Current Auroral Oval:
Switch to: Europe, USA, New Zealand, Antarctica
Credit: NOAA/POES
Planetary K-index
Now: Kp= 3 quiet
24-hr max: Kp= 5
storm
explanation | more data
Interplanetary Mag. Field
Btotal: 3.8 nT
Bz: 2.9 nT south
explanation | more data
Updated: Today at 2347 UT
Coronal Holes: 26 Apr 13
Earth is entering a solar wind stream flowing from this large and complex coronal hole. Credit: SDO/AIA.
SPACE WEATHER
NOAA Forecasts
Updated at: 2013 Apr 26 2200 UTC
FLARE
0-24 hr
24-48 hr
CLASS M
40 %
25 %
CLASS X
15 %
05 %
Geomagnetic Storms:
Probabilities for significant disturbances in Earth's magnetic field are given for three activity levels: active, minor storm, severe storm
Updated at: 2013 Apr 26 2200 UTC
Mid-latitudes
0-24 hr
24-48 hr
ACTIVE
15 %
10 %
MINOR
01 %
01 %
SEVERE
01 %
01 %
High latitudes
0-24 hr
24-48 hr
ACTIVE
15 %
15 %
MINOR
20 %
15 %
SEVERE
20 %
10 %
 
Friday, Apr. 26, 2013
What's up in space
 

Listen to radar echoes from satellites and meteors, live on listener-supported Space Weather Radio.

 
Spaceweather Radio is on the air

GEOMAGNETIC UNREST: Today, a fast but thin solar wind stream is buffeting Earth's magnetic field. This is causing some geomagnetic unrest, including a G1-class storm during the early hours of April 26th. High-latitude sky watchers should be alert for auroras shining through the full moonlight. Solar flare alerts: text, voice.

SLIGHT LUNAR ECLIPSE: Last night, the full Moon over Africa, Europe, Asia and Australia passed through the outer edge of Earth's shadow. It was the slightest of eclipses, with less than 2% of the lunar disk falling into darkness. Nevertheless, many sky watchers noticed, such as amateur astronomer Walter Borghini. He sends this picture of the shadow-zone from Casasco (AL), Italy:

As for lunar eclipses, this is as good as it gets until April 15, 2014. On that date, the the Moon will be fully engulfed by Earth's shadow and the lunar disk will turn a dark shade of sunset red. The total eclipse will be visible from the Americas and Australia: map. Until then, browse the gallery for images of last night's partial shadowfall:

Realtime Lunar Eclipse Photo Gallery

BIG SUNSPOT, CHANCE OF FLARES: Sunspot AR1726 is turning away from Earth, but the threat of flares is not subsiding. The sunspot has a delta-class magnetic field that harbors energy for powerful eruptions. NOAA forecasters estimate a 40% chance of M-class flares and a 15% chance of X-flares on April 25th. Solar flare alerts: text, voice.

Amateur astronomer Alan Friedman photographed the sunspot on April 23rd. His H-alpha telescope, tuned to the red glow of solar hydrogen, revealed a seething active region spanning more than 125,000 km (10 Earth diameters) wide:

"The full-sized image reminds me of a Clementine orange," notes Friedman. "I captured the fruity shot through a turbulent jet stream on a beautiful spring day in Buffalo, NY."

The sheer size of the sunspot makes it an easy target for backyard solar telescopes. Browse the gallery for views from around the world.

Realtime Space Weather Photo Gallery


Realtime Aurora Photo Gallery


Realtime Comet Photo Gallery


Realtime Noctilucent Cloud Photo Gallery
[previous years: 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011]

  Near Earth Asteroids
Potentially Hazardous Asteroids (PHAs) are space rocks larger than approximately 100m that can come closer to Earth than 0.05 AU. None of the known PHAs is on a collision course with our planet, although astronomers are finding new ones all the time.
On April 26, 2013 there were potentially hazardous asteroids.
Recent & Upcoming Earth-asteroid encounters:
Asteroid
Date(UT)
Miss Distance
Size
2005 NZ6
Apr 29
24.9 LD
1.3 km
2001 DQ8
Apr 30
74.3 LD
1.1 km
2004 BV102
May 25
69.9 LD
1.4 km
1998 QE2
May 31
15.2 LD
2.1 km
2000 FM10
Jun 5
50.3 LD
1.3 km
2002 KL3
Jun 6
66.4 LD
1.1 km
1999 WC2
Jun 12
39.2 LD
1.9 km
2006 RO36
Jun 18
70.9 LD
1.2 km
Notes: LD means "Lunar Distance." 1 LD = 384,401 km, the distance between Earth and the Moon. 1 LD also equals 0.00256 AU. MAG is the visual magnitude of the asteroid on the date of closest approach.
  Essential web links
NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center
  The official U.S. government space weather bureau
Atmospheric Optics
  The first place to look for information about sundogs, pillars, rainbows and related phenomena.
Solar Dynamics Observatory
  Researchers call it a "Hubble for the sun." SDO is the most advanced solar observatory ever.
STEREO
  3D views of the sun from NASA's Solar and Terrestrial Relations Observatory
Solar and Heliospheric Observatory
  Realtime and archival images of the Sun from SOHO.
Daily Sunspot Summaries
  from the NOAA Space Environment Center
Heliophysics
  the underlying science of space weather
Space Weather Alerts
   
  more links...
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