Earth-facing Coronal Mass Ejection
Earth-orbiting satellites have just detected a M1.4 class solar flare at 16-Oct-2026 at 15:42:00 UTC.
Tag Archive | astronomy
SPACEWEATHER: A Solar Report
Only the Sun Today
SPACEWEATHER.COM NEWS: 09/21/2026
THE FIRST SOLAR WIND STREAM OF AUTUMN: Northern autumn begins on Tuesday, Sept. 22nd. The next day, a solar wind stream arrives. The incoming stream is flowing faster than 600 km/s from a canyon-shaped hole in the sun’s atmosphere. Its arrival will set the stage for the first equinox auroras of the new season.
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SPACEWEATHER: Signs of Powers Above, and the New Moon
AI Illustration of the 5 Blue Bird Satellites crossing the sky
Visible Signs of Power
SPACEWEATHER.COM NEWS: 09/11/2026
SEE THE BLUEBIRD SATELLITES: The world’s largest commercial satellite antennas are about to fly over the USA. They’re called “BlueBirds.” AST SpaceMobile launched them to act as cell phone towers in space. This weekend, the satellites could be as bright as 1st magnitude stars. Sign up for our Backyard Astronomy Alert Service. Five minutes before the Bluebirds appear, your phone will buzz with a text message: “Go outside now and look up!”
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SOLAR FLARE ALERT: M7.0-Class Solar Flare
Increasing Frequency and Intensity
SOLAR FLARE ALERT:
Earth-orbiting satellites have just detected a M7.0 class solar flare at August 25, 2026, 10:02:00 UTC (5:02:00 AM CDT).
There’s higher potential for Cannibal CME’s when one flare closely follows another with increasing intensity. One overtakes another and the “2 made one” magnify the intensity of a Solar Storm.
The NOAA Dashboard offers video of previous flares. The latest GOES image shows an expanding Coronal Hole, adding Solar Winds to the Earth-directed CMEs.) UPDATE JUST IN WITH IMAGE AND DETAILS.
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SPACEWEATHER: Continued Solar Flares from Sunspot 4513
Ongoing Solar Flares from Sunspot 4513
The Sun has produced 4 Solar Flares in the past 48 hours. Sunspot 4513 has been identified as the source for the first three and is likely the source of the most recent flare. Images and location of the most recent flare is forthcoming. 4513 now resides in geoeffective Earth-facing position, and will continue to be for the next 3 to 4 days.
SOLAR FLARE ALERT: Earth-orbiting satellites have just detected a M2.0 class solar flare August 25, 2026 at 01:26:00 UTC (August 24, 2026, 8:26:00 PM CDT). An R1 (minor) radio blackout is possible on the sunlit side of Earth.
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SPACEWEATHER: Raining Plasma; Sunspot 4513 Potential for X-Class Flares
Sun in H-alpha, Taken by Pat P. on August 21, 2026 @ Pittsburgh, PA USA
Sunspot 4513 in Geoeffective Position
SPACEWEATHER.COM NEWS: 08/22/2026
IT’S RAINING PLASMA: Amateur astronomers are watching a rainstorm on the edge of the sun. Pat P. of Pittsburgh, PA, photographed the downpour on Aug. 21st:
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SPACEWEATHER: The Sun Today, 01 AUG 2026
August 1, 2026, 08/01/2026
AIA 171 Å: The Golden Atmosphere (Corona)
AIA (Atmospheric Imaging Assembly) is the camera on board the SDO satellite.
171Å (171 Angstroms) defines a microscopic measure of a wavelength of light.
The 171 filter captures Extreme Ultraviolet (EUV) from super-heated plasma at 1 million degrees kelvin. It shows massive, glowing magnetic loops walking across the Sun like giant slinkies. Loops can be seen twisting, breaking, or glowing brightly when there’s a solar flare.
The SDO 171 Image is the Sun’s outer atmosphere (the Corona). The Corona (crown) is the flame, a thousands of times hotter, sitting above the Sun like a crown.
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SPACEWEATHER: Spinning Sunspot, a Fly-Over, and the New Moon
Rotation of a sunspot – AR4482, Taken by Maximilian-Vlad Teodorescu on July 11, 2026 @ Institute of Space Science, Romania
Turning To the Light
Photo Details:
Sunspots rotate. It is known for some time now, but it is nice to actually see that for yourself. Here is a crude animation showing sunspot group AR4482 over the course of 5 days (7 to 11 of July, 2026). Note the different sections rotate differently. The upper part rotates anticlockwise quite fast, while the lower part has different motions inside it. More on sunspot rotation here.
SPACEWEATHER.COM NEWS: 07/14/2026
A SPINNING SUNSPOT: Planets spin. Moons spin. Stars spin. Is it any surprise that sunspots also spin? Maximilian-Vlad Teodorico photographed the phenomenon last week (July 7-11) when sunspot AR4482 pinwheeled across the solar disk:
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SPACEWEATHER: Venus and Jupiter Converge; a Weak CME, and Another On the Way
The Expected and Unexpected
SPACEWEATHER.COM NEWS: 06/07/2026
WATCH VENUS AND JUPITER CONVERGE THIS WEEKEND: It’s happening now. The two brightest planets in the Solar System are converging for one of the best sunset conjunctions in years. On June 8th and 9th, Jupiter and Venus will be only 1.6 degrees apart. Valerie Liard sends this picture of the converging planets from Epernay, Marne, France:
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SPACEWEATHER: Venus and Jupiter Converging; Starship Launch
Moon, Venus and Jupiter, Taken by Marek Nikodem on May 19, 2026 @ near Szubin, Poland
A Daily Convergence of Light
SPACEWEATHER.COM NEWS: 05/22/2026
VENUS AND JUPITER ARE CONVERGING: Earlier this week, sky watchers around the world witnessed a beautiful alignment of Venus, Jupiter and the crescent Moon in the sunset sky. Marek Nikodem photographed the trio from Szubin, Poland:
