Our Sun calms down just a little bit this week. We had over 20 radio blackouts on Earth’s dayside from December 14 though December 17 due to several troublemakers, namely Regions 3156 and 3163, and 3165, but the last of the bunch (region 3163) is now rotating to the Sun’s farside. This is good news because this leaves Region 3169 as the only remaining threat for big flares, and it has calmed down substantially since rotating into Earth view. Although radio blackouts are still possible, both GPS users and amateur radio operators on Earth’s dayside can breathe a sigh of relief through the holidays. Aurora photographers are also greeted with good news this week as we have some fast solar wind from an extended set of coronal holes hitting Earth through the weekend. Aurora photographers at high latitudes should expect some decent shows while chances at mid-latitudes will be more sporadic. However, the New Moon on the 23rd, which will be coincident with the peak of the Ursid meteor shower, could really enhance even a weak appearance of aurora. It all conspires to be a perfect holiday night sky, just in time to catch a glimpse of Santa Claus and his reindeer.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 8:22 — 11.5MB)
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | RSS