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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

Presto 2024-09-12

The global geomagnetic conditions reached moderate storm levels (NOAA Kp 6-) at 12 Sep 09:00-12:00 UTC. This is the result of a Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) arrival at 12 Sep 03:00 UTC. The geomagnetic conditions are expected to remain at storm levels for several more hours and then drop to active levels some time in the next 24 hours.

Flaremail 2024-09-12

A class M6.8 solar X-ray flare occurred on 2024/09/12 with peak time 14:43UT

CACTus Halo 2024-09-10

A halo or partial-halo CME was detected with the following characteristics: t0 | dt0| pa | da | v | dv | minv| maxv| 2024-09-10T02:12:08.742 | 6.0 | 178 | 318 | 1201 | 597 | 206 | 2016 t0: onset time, earliest indication of liftoff dt0: duration of liftoff (hours) pa: principal angle, counterclockwise from North (degrees) da: angular width of the CME (degrees), v: median velocity (km/s) dv: variation (1 sigma) of velocity over the width of the CME mindv: lowest velocity detected within the CME maxdv: highest velocity detected within the CME

Forecasts

  • Flare: M-class flares
    (≥50%)
  • Protons: Quiet
  • Geomagnetic: Minor storm
    (A>=30 or K=5)
  • All quiet: False
  • Provisional SSN: 119

Solar Activity

URSIgram 2024-09-12

Solar flaring activity was high during the past 24 hours, with an X1.3 and nine M-class flares registered in total. A yet-unnamed Active Region (AR) at S14E85 produced the X-class flare at 12 Sep 09:43 UTC and an M-1.9 at 11 Sep 15:30 UTC. NOAA AR 3811 (magnetic configuration Beta, Catania sunspot group no 89) produced five M-class flares, with the brightest being an M5.0 at 12 Sep 00:12 UTC. NOAA AR 3814 produced three M-class flares, with the brightest being an M2.0 at 11 Sep 17:52. As the AR at S14E85 is too close to the solar limb for an accurate assess of its magnetic complexity, it is difficult to estimate the chances for another X-class flare in the next 24 hours. In any case, numerous M-class flares are very likely to take place during the next 24 hours. No Earth-directed Coronal Mass Ejections (CME) were observed in the last 24 hours. The greater than 10 MeV proton flux, as reported by GOES-18, was below the 10 pfu alert threshold level during the last 24 hours. Nevertheless, there is a chance that a proton event might occur as a result of the increased solar flaring activity. The greater than 2 MeV electron flux, as measured by the GOES-18 satellite, was at nominal levels during the last 24 hours and is expected to remain at these levels during the next 24 hours. The 24h electron fluence was at very low levels during the past 24 hours and is expected to remain at these levels for the following 24 hours.

Solar Wind

URSIgram 2024-09-12

Geomagnetic conditions reached globally moderate storm (Kp 6- between at 12 Sep 09:00-12:00 UTC) and minor storm levels (Kp 5+ at 12 Sep 06:00-09:00 UTC) as the result of a Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) arrival at 12 Sep 03:00 UTC. Locally the situation was milder, with K BEL at minor storm level (5) at 12 Sep 06:00-09:00 UTC and then dropping to active conditions (K BEL 4) at 09:00-12:00 UTC. Globally storm conditions (either at minor or moderate storm levels) are expected to prevail during the next 24 hours, although there is a chance of a major storm (Kp 7). Locally the conditions are also expected to remain at storm levels, albeit they are expected to be lower than the global values. The Solar Wind (SW) conditions were affected by the predicted arrivals first of a glancing blow associated with the Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) of the 9 Sep and then the arrival of the CME of 10 Sep. Starting from 11 Sep 14:30 UTC, the SW speed increased from 330 km/s to almost 400 km/s, while the total interplanetary magnetic field (Bt) increased from 2 nT to 10 nT. The North-South component of the magnetic field (Bz) varied between -5 and 8 nT during the glancing blow. The CME of 10 Sep became geo-effective at 12 Sep 03:00 UTC and caused a rapid increase of the SW speed to 570 km/s. The total interplanetary magnetic field (Bt) increased from 27 nT and its North-South component varied between -21 nT and 16 nT. The interplanetary magnetic field phi angle varied a lot since the arrival of the CME but it was mostly directed away from the Sun during the past 24 hours. The effects of the CME arrival are expected to last for at least the next 24 hours.

Research

News

the September 3, 1944 drawing

80 years ago, our solar observers marked the liberation of Brussels

80 years ago, the Allies liberated Brussels, and this event did not go unnoticed by our solar observers!
Boy shouting in microphone

Call for Guest Investigators

Once more, the solar physics team of the Royal Observatory of Belgium invites external researchers to join in the data exploitation of its space telescopes on the PROBA2 microsatellite (SWAP, LYRA) and on Solar Orbiter (EUI).
The SPADE array installed in Humain

First solar observations with SPADE

In the past couple of weeks, the radio-astronomy team has worked relentlessly on a new setup and calibration procedure for the SPADE instrument.
 

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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