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Observations

Space Based Imaging

More data: SWAP, EUI

Ground Based Imaging

More: H-α, WL, Ca-IIK, Drawings

Ground Based Radio

More: ARCAS+HSRS, CALLISTO

Space Based Timelines

More data: LYRA, TSI

WDC Sunspot Index

More data: SILSO

Space Weather Services

Detections

Solar Map

Latest Alerts

None

No alerts since: 2024-11-30

Forecasts

  • Flare: C-class flares
    (≥50%)
  • Protons: Quiet
  • Geomagnetic: Quiet
    (A<20 and K<4)
  • All quiet: False
  • Provisional SSN: 123

Solar Activity

URSIgram 2024-12-04

Solar flaring activity has reached moderate levels, with several C-class flares and one M-class flare recorded over the past 24 hours. The largest flare was an M2.3 flare, peaking at 10:00 UTC on December 4. It was associated with an active region (AR) behind the east limb (S09E89), which is currently rotating onto the solar disk.There are currently eight numbered active regions visible on the solar disk. SIDC Sunspot Group 323 (NOAA Active Region 3906; beta-gamma) is the largest and most complex region on the disk but has only produced C-class flares in the past 24 hours. It is expected to rotate over the west limb within the next few hours, along with SIDC Sunspot Group 322 (NOAA Active Region 3905; beta-gamma), that was inactive over the past 24 hours. Low flaring activity was also produced by SIDC Sunspot Group 330 (NOAA Active Region 3916; beta). Other regions on the disc have simple configuration of their photospheric magnetic field (alpha and beta) and have not shown any significant flaring activity. Solar flaring activity is expected to be at low levels over the next 24 hours, with C-class flares very likely and a chance of M-class flares. No Earth-directed coronal mass ejections (CMEs) have been detected in the available coronagraph imagery over the past 24 hours. A positive polarity mid-latitude coronal hole (SIDC Coronal Hole 60) started to cross the central meridian. The greater than 10 MeV GOES proton was below the 10 pfu threshold over the past 24 hours. It is expected to remain below the threshold level over the next 24 hours. There is a small chance that the proton flux may increase in case of strong flaring from SIDC Sunspot Group 323 (NOAA Active Region 3906). The greater than 2 MeV electron flux, as measured by the GOES-16 satellite, remained below the 1000 pfu alert threshold, and it is expected to remain below the threshold during the next 24 hours. The 24h electron fluence was at normal levels and is expected to remain at these levels.

Solar Wind

URSIgram 2024-12-04

Geomagnetic conditions over the past 24 hours were quiet to unsettled globally (NOAA Kp: 2 to 3). Locally, over Belgium, an active period was registered between 18:00 and 22:00 UTC on December 3 (K-Bel: 4). Quiet to unsettled geomagnetic conditions are expected over the next 24 hours. Over the past 24 hours, the solar wind parameters (ACE and DSCOVR) reflected the waning influence of the ICME. The interplanetary magnetic field magnitude decreased from 10 nT to 8 nT. The solar wind speed ranged between 420 km/s and 500 km/s. The southward component of the interplanetary magnetic field fluctuated between -6 nT and 6 nT. Solar wind parameters are expected to gradually return to slow solar wind conditions over the next few days.

Research

News

Proba-3 in flight

Launch of Proba-3 on December 4

Proba-3 is the latest ESA mission to be launched on December 4, 2024. The exploitation of ASPIICS, the instrument imaging the solar corona, is in the hands of the Royal Observatory of Belgium (ROB), where the associated scientific research will also be coordinated.
SOHOproton

Out of the blue

Last week was marked by a surprise proton event, with its source on the Sun's farside.
Halpha

Filament eruption

An interesting filament eruption took place in the Sun's southern hemisphere on 11 November.
 

Activities

Ground Observations

The SIDC monitors the level of solar activity from the photosphere to the corona with ground based instruments located in Uccle and Humain.

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Space Instruments

To avoid the disturbing or blocking effect of the Earth atmosphere, EUV observations of the solar corona need to be made from space...

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Space Weather & Climate

We monitor and forecast solar variability to provide information services  to society and industry about the influence of space weather and climate.

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Data Processing & Distribution

Data processing is necessary to extract relevant information for research studies, whereas data distribution and visualization are part of ROB open data policy.

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Modeling

Modelling of Solar phenomena allows scientists to test theories and to predict Space Weather phenomena and their impact on Earth.

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Supporting Research

The SIDC shares and expands its expertise through interaction with both upcoming and experienced researchers.

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