x-rays

Description

On July 8, 2012 our Sun has unleashed 12 C-class and 4 M-class solar flares, the strongest one is the M6.9. M6.9 -- Flare began at: 1623 peaked at: 1632 ended at: 1642 4.5E-02 (Sunspot active region 1515) http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/ftpmenu/indices/events.html "Solar flares are classified as A, B, C, M or X according to the peak flux (in watts per square meter, W/m2) of 100 to 800 picometer X-rays near Earth, as measured on the GOES spacecraft. Within a class there is a linear scale from 1 to 9.n (apart from X), so an X2 flare is twice as powerful as an X1 flare, and is four times more powerful than an M5 flare." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_flare Joint USAF/NOAA Report of Solar and Geophysical Activity Issued at 2200Z on 08 Jul 2012 "Analysis of Solar Active Regions and Activity from 07/2100Z to 08/2100Z: Solar activity was high. Region 1515 (S17W76) produced an M6/1n at 08/1632Z along with a 640 sfu Tenflare, Type II (est. speed 2271 km/s) and Type IV radio sweeps. An associated CME became visible in LASCO C2 imagery at 08/1648Z." " Solar Activity Forecast: Solar activity is expected to be moderate with a chance for X-class events for the next three days (09-11 July)." Forecast - Report of Solar and Geophysical Activity: http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/ftpmenu/latest.html "The GOES 12 through 15 spacecraft each carry a sophisticated Solar X-ray Imager to monitor the Sun's X-rays for the early detection of solar flares, coronal mass ejections, and other phenomena that impact the geospace environment." http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/sxi/index.html Explanation on the Classification of X-ray Solar Flares : http://spaceweather.com/glossary/flareclasses.html SWPC Real-time Monitor Displays http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/rt_plots AIA 304/335/193/171 (2012-07-08 00:00:32 -- 23:56:08 UTC) SOHO LASCO C2 (2012-07-08 02:48 -- 2012-07-09 10:00 UTC) SOHO LASCO C3 (2012-07-08 03:18 -- 2012-07-09 09:54 UTC) Credit: Helioviewer.org. SOHO (ESA & NASA)