THE WRONG SUNSPOT KEEPS ERUPTING: All eyes are on monster sunspot 4294-4296, which seems poised to erupt with an epic Earth-directed flare. Instead, the "monster" is quiet and other sunspots are providing the action. On Dec. 6th, northern sunspot 4299 erupted and hurled a CME directly toward Earth. Read the details below--but don't stop watching the monster. Solar flare alerts: SMS Text.
EARTH-DIRECTED SOLAR FLARE AND CME: It was almost an X-flare. On Dec. 6th (20:39 UTC), sunspot 4299 produced an M8-class solar flare pointing directly at Earth:
Atmospheric ionization caused a shortwave radio blackout over the Pacific Ocean. Mariners and ham radio operators may have noticed loss of signal at all frequencies below 20 MHz for 15 to 20 minutes after the flare.
Of greater interest is the CME. Both NOAA and SOHO coronagraphs have detected a full halo storm cloud heading directly for Earth. NASA and NOAA models agree that the CME will arrive Dec. 9th:
The impact could spark G2 (Moderate) to G3 (Strong) category geomagnetic storms. Mid-latitude auroras mixed with moonlight are possible if the storm reaches the upper end of this range. CME impact alerts: SMS Text.
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