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Waiting for the big one


We are now more than 5 years in the current solar cycle (SC), and so far we have not experienced a single extreme geomagnetic storm.

Revolt of the filaments


Over the last few weeks, big, complex sunspot groups and associated high flaring activity got everybody's attention. One would almost forget that solar filaments are also part of the solar activity. Time for a change!

The big wave!...


The long way to solar maximum


Everybody has noticed it: Over the last few months, solar activity has shifted into a higher gear.

Those darn CMEs!...


In a previous news item, it was already discussed how some CMEs use unconventional techniques to get to Earth undetected and create all of a sudden a geomagnetic disturbance.
Guess what? Those sneaky CMEs found a new way to surprise the space weather forecasters!...

Shoot-out at NOAA 1974


What seemed to be a boring and declining sunspot group suddenly turned out to be the most flare productive group of the week.

On 9 February, NOAA 1974 was a relatively small group with almost no spots in its trailing end. Then, in the course of the day, new magnetic flux emerged in this trailing portion gradually increasing its sunspot area to nearly 6 times the surface area of the Earth by 15 February. In view of the close proximity of the sunspot groups (less than 10 degrees in heliographic longitude), this region was still considered as 1 sunspot group.

Magic potion for an X-class flare


NOAA 1967 has rotated behind the west limb. It was a little bit of a disappointment that the largest sunspot group so far this solar cycle (according to NOAA statistics), only produced numerous M-flares. The approximate positions of 15 of these M-flares, produced between 30 January and 7 February, are indicated on a 2 February SDO-image of NOAA 1967.

M6 flare in NOAA 1967


On 27 January, a big, complex region rounded the Sun's east limb and was labelled NOAA 1967. This large sunspot group was the return of NOAA 1944 which appeared early January and was very active at that time, including 7 M- and 1 X-class flare. Using solar eclipse glasses, both groups were easy naked-eye objects.

A high-latitude sunspot group


The intensity of proton flares


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