DECEMBER 26 - RECAP OF CHRISTMAS SOLAR FLARE / CME ERUPTIONS FROM THE SUN

The activity related to the SUN on Christmas apparently is not expected to immediatley affect us. It appears this sunspot, 1385, has directed the more immediate effect towards Mars. This would be to our right when facing the sun at high daypoint. The Earth is forecasted by the Goddard Space Weather Lab to receive a glancing blow from the M-4 CME, beginning early Wednesday, Dec. 28. This should increase the chances of geomagnetic storms on Earth by 30-40%.

This began the morning of Cristmas Eve, Dec. 24, when sunspot 1386 belted out C-class eruptions towards Jupiter. Early Christmas morning, two magnetic strands erupted out from the sun in what appeared to be a solar flare, sending blasts out towards Mercury and Saturn. Later in the morning, sunspot 1385 (which is facing more towards Mars), spewed several C-class eruptions.

To alot of astonishment, in a period of rapid change for 1385, a M-4 strength CME was belted out during early Christmas afternoon. This was followed by an additional strong C-class blast in late afternoon, then around 10 pm, another M-class CME. This one was only an M-1. Since, there have been several more C-class releases. Wednesday could be a day of some disruptions, it really is unpredictable as to exactly what extent. Please visit my sponsors.