Sun news: Spectacular prominence signals far side action (2025)

Sun news April 24: Spectacular prominence signals far side action

(11 UTC to 11 UTC)

Today’s top story: Sun activity has shifted to the far side of our star. A dramatic and beautiful prominence erupted on the northwest limb, likely tied to an explosion from an active region just over the solar horizon. Meanwhile, the Earth-facing side of the Sun remains quiet, producing only C-class flares. At Earth, the anticipated G1 (Minor) geomagnetic storm arrived as a more subdued active disturbance (Kp = 4), with the fast solar wind from the massive southern coronal hole continuing to wane. Stay tuned — the wind may calm for now, but space weather never sleeps!

• Flare activity dropped to low levels over the past 24 hours with only C (common) flares. The largest event was a C3.9 from active region AR4064 in the sun’s northwest at 14:55 UTC on April 23. Flare productivity saw an increase compared to previous days. During the period the sun produced 16 C flares compared to six flares yesterday.
• The sun has eight numbered active regions on its Earth-facing side. Active region AR4070 developed a gamma region now showing a beta-gamma magnetic configuration. All the rest of the sunspot regions have simpler alpha or beta magnetic configurations (and subsequent low flaring potential). There is a newcomer on the solar disk, AR4072, in the southeast quadrant.
• Blasts from the sun? No coronal mass ejections (CMEs) were observed in available coronagraph imagery.
• Solar wind: Solar wind averaged 500 km/s (about 1,233,000 mph) peaking at 644 Km/s (1,440,000 mph). At the time of this writing (11 UTC), the solar wind speed is ~520 km/s (about 1,163,207 mph). This is the influence of high-speed solar wind stream from the huge coronal hole that is waning. The total interplanetary magnetic field is at a moderate level. The Bz component (north-south orientation) has been mostly southward during the period and still is southward at the time of this writing. A southward Bz is more favorable for auroras.
• Geomagnetic activity: Earth’s geomagnetic field was at quiet to unsettled levels (Kp = 3 – 4) as effects of fast solar wind from the huge coronal hole started to wane.

What’s ahead? Sun-Earth forecast

• Low-to-moderate flare activity is expected. The chance for M (moderate) flares is 40%, and the chance for X (strong) flares is 1% today.
• Geomagnetic activity forecast: At the time of this writing (11 UTC on April 24) geomagnetic activity is unsettled at a Kp = 4 level. The threshold wasw reached at 7:09 UTC on April 24. The anticipated G1 (moderate) geomagnetic storm didn’t arrive. April 25 should see quiet to unsettled conditions as the high-speed solar wind continues to wane, returning to quiet levels on April 26.

Sun news April 23: Goodbye and hello to colossal coronal holes

(11 UTC to 11 UTC)

Today’s top story: Fast solar wind from a massive coronal hole on the south of the solar disk has been disturbing Earth’s magnetic field. It triggered G1 (minor) and G2 (moderate) geomagnetic storms. But now these effects are beginning to wane, as this huge coronal hole move out of geoeffective position, that is, a position on the sun where it is capable of affecting Earth. But wait! As this huge coronal hole leaves, another pretty big coronal hole is moving into position. The high speed solar wind from this second hole might start reaching us at Earth soon. And that could mean more auroras at high latitudes! Keep watching, aurora chasers.

• Flare activity remained at moderate levels again during the past 24 hours, thanks to an isolated M (moderate) flare. The flare was an M1.3 from active region AR4060 in the sun’s northwest at 11:34 UTC on April 22. It caused an R1 (minor) radio blackout that affected an area over Africa. Flare productivity was at the same level as yesterday, six flares, one M flare and five Cs.
• The sun has nine numbered active regions on its Earth-facing side. All the sunspot regions have simple alpha or beta magnetic configurations (and subsequent low flaring potential). There are three newcomers on the solar disk, AR4069 near the disk center, AR4070 in the southeast quadrant and AR4071 in the southwest near the limb (edge).
• Blasts from the sun? Three coronal mass ejections (CMEs) were observed in available coronagraph imagery. One from AR4065 at 9:36 UTC on April 22 might give Earth a glancing blow on April 25.
• Solar wind: Solar wind averaged 500 km/s (about 1,233,000 mph). At the time of this writing (11 UTC), the solar wind speed is about 468 km/s (about 1,047,000 mph). All this continued under the influence of high-speed solar wind stream from the coronal hole, but effects have begun to wane. Specialists anticipate a return to high levels of the solar wind up to 600 – 700 Km/s. The total interplanetary magnetic field now at low level. The Bz component (north-south orientation) has been mostly north oriented during the period but it moved southward at the time of this writing. A southward Bz is more favorable for auroras.
• Geomagnetic activity: Earth’s geomagnetic field was at quiet levels (Kp = 3) as effects of fast solar wind from the huge coronal hole started to wane.

What’s ahead? Sun-Earth forecast

• Low-to-moderate flare activity is expected. The chance for M (moderate) flares is 40%, and the chance for X (strong) flares is 1% today.
• Geomagnetic activity forecast: At the time of this writing (11 UTC on April 23) geomagnetic activity is quiet Kp = 2 level. Unsettled-to-active levels are expected later on today. Specialists still anticipate geomagnetic disturbance up to a G1 (moderate) geomagnetic storm. April 24 might see quieter conditions conditions as the high-speed solar wind starts to wane.

Sun news April 22: Solar wind surge could bring auroras

(11 UTC to 11 UTC)

Earth’s magnetic field is currently being buffeted by a surge of fast solar wind, which is coming from a massive coronal hole on the south of the solar disk. This has already triggered a G1 (minor) geomagnetic storm, and G2 (moderate) storming is possible tonight. And that could mean auroras at high latitudes! Keep an eye out, aurora chasers.

• Flare activity remained at a moderate level over the past 24 hours thanks to an isolated M (moderate) flare. TheM1.9 flare came from active region AR4062 in the southwest at 18:37 UTC on April 21. It caused an R1 (minor) radio blackout that affected an area over Mexico. Flare productivity reduced to seven flares in the past 24 hours (one M flare and six Cs), down from 11 the day before. One of these C flares was a C9.9, so just a hair from being an M flare. It came from an as-yet-unnumbered region in the southeast at 1 UTC on April 22.
• The sun currently has seven numbered active regions as seen from Earth. Sunspot region AR4062 lost its gamma configuration and now all the sunspot regions have simpler alpha or beta configurations. Magnetic complexity is a signal for possible strong flaring. The more complex, the greater the chance for M and X flares.
• Blasts from the sun? No Earth-directed coronal mass ejections (CMEs) were observed in available coronagraph imagery during the past 24 hours.
• Solar wind: Solar wind speeds increased, averaging 620 km/s (about 1,387,000 mph) and peaking at 700 km/h (1,566,000). At the time of this writing (11 UTC), the solar wind speed is about 613 km/s (about 1,371,000 mph). This is due to the high-speed solar wind stream from the coronal hole. The total interplanetary magnetic field is increasing. The Bz component (north-south orientation) has been mostly southward during the period but it moved northward at the time of this writing. A southward Bz is more favorable for auroras.
• Geomagnetic activity: Late yesterday, Earth’s geomagnetic field was active, reaching G1 (minor) geomagnetic storming levels (Kp = 5). This activity is due to the arrival of fast solar wind from the huge coronal hole we have been observing.

Sun news April 21: Massive coronal hole sending solar wind our way

(11 UTC to 11 UTC)

Here comes the solar wind! Analysts have noticed an increase in the strength of the interplanetary magnetic field, along with an uptick in solar wind speeds. It’s a shift from a solar breeze to the stirrings of a solar gale, suggesting that Earth is starting to receive an anticipated high-speed solar wind stream from a massive coronal hole in the solar south. If confirmed, this could mean G1–G2 (minor–moderate) geomagnetic storming is on the way, likely tomorrow through Wednesday. Aurora watchers, stay tuned!

• Flare activity increased to a moderate level due to an isolated M (moderate) flare. This M1.0 flare came from over the southeast limb (edge) at 11:37 UTC on April 20. It caused an R1 (minor) radio blackout over Africa. The total flare production increased to 11 flares in the past 24 hours, from four the day before.
• The sun has seven numbered active regions on the Earth-facing disk. AR4062 retained its beta-gamma configuration and remains the only one with a complex magnetic structure. The remaining sunspot regions have simpler alpha or beta configurations. Magnetic complexity is a signal for possible strong flaring. The more complex, the greater the chance for M and X flares.
• Blasts from the sun? No Earth-directed coronal mass ejections (CMEs) were observed in available coronagraph imagery during the past 24 hours.
• Solar wind: Solar wind speeds averaged ~380–435 km/s (about 850,036-973,067 mph), increasing slightly over much of the past 24 hours, then ramping up toward the end of the period. At the time of this writing (11 UTC), the solar wind speed is about 520 km/s (about 1,163,000 mph). This could be the beginnings of the expected high-speed stream from a coronal hole. The total interplanetary magnetic field is increasing. The Bz component (north-south orientation) has been mostly southward during the period and is southward at the time of this writing. A southward Bz is more favorable for auroras.
• Geomagnetic activity:Earth’s geomagnetic field ranged between quiet and active for most of the past 24 hours and is currently active (Kp = 4).

Sun news April 20: Colossal coronal hole sends Earth its solar wind

(11 UTC to 11 UTC)

It’s a quiet Sun Day, with solar activity dropping to low levels: just four small C-class flares over the past 24 hours. But don’t get too comfortable! A giant coronal hole in the southern hemisphere is turning to face Earth, and the fast solar wind it’s sending our way is expected to arrive soon. This stream of solar plasma and embedded magnetic fields could rattle Earth’s magnetic field, sparking geomagnetic storms at G1 to G2 (minor to moderate) levels. Keep those aurora alerts handy. Auroral displays may light up high-latitude skies over the next two days!

• Flare activity dropped to a low level with four C (common) flares. This is a significant drop in level though the drop is only one flare in number.
• The sun has seven numbered active regions on the Earth-facing disk. AR4062 retained its beta-gamma configuration and remains the only one with a complex magnetic structure. The remaining sunspot regions have simpler alpha or beta configurations. Magnetic complexity is a signal for possible strong flaring. The more complex, the greater the chance for M and X flares.
• Blasts from the sun? No Earth-directed coronal mass ejections (CMEs) were observed in available coronagraph imagery during the past 24 hours.
• Solar wind: Solar wind speeds averaged ~350–400 km/s (about 782,928 – 894,775 mph). At the time of this writing (11 UTC), the solar wind speed is about 400 km/s (about 894,775 mph). The total interplanetary magnetic field is at a low level. The Bz component (north-south orientation) has been mostly southward during the period and is northward at the time of this writing. A southward Bz is more favorable for auroras.
• Geomagnetic activity:Earth’s geomagnetic field was quiet to unsettled over most of the past 24 hours with one 3-hour period of a G1 (minor) geomagnetic storm (Kp = 5) level starting at 00:55 UTC on April 20.

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Bottom line: Sun news April 23, 2025. One coronal hole moves out of position as another one moves in. The 2nd hole soon will bring more fast solar wind to Earth, sparking auroras. A CME might give Earth a glacing blow on April 25.
Find archived versions of past days’ sun news here.