Two C flares and two M flares were measured by GOES during the past 24 hours. A long duration M4.0 flare occurred in the western part of NOAA AR 11944 on January 4 with peak time at 19:46 UT. An associated CME is mainly propagating southward, but more properties are difficult to determine due to a data gap in STEREO and LASCO imagery. NOAA AR 11944 continued to grow in size and number of sunspots. It currently has a beta-gamma-delta magnetic configuration of its photospheric field. A long duration M2.0 flare erupted on January 4 with peak time at 22:52 UT. The source region for this event is NOAA AR 11936, currently located at the west limb. A related CME was observed in LASCO/C2 and STEREO B coronagraphic imagery (first measurement in LASCO/C2 at 23:12 UT). Based on the current observations, the CME is mainly propagating in the northwest direction with an estimated projected speed of 520 km/s. A glancing blow might arrive at Earth on January 8 around 0:00 UT.  The >10 MeV proton flux was enhanced during the past 12 hours, but remained below the threshold level. The flaring chances for the next 48 hours are high: 90% for C flares, 70% for M flares. There is also some chance for an X flare (20%). We maintain the warning condition for proton events. Current solar wind speed measured by ACE is around 450 km/s. The magnitude of the interplanetary magnetic field remains around 4 to 6 nT. Current geomagnetic conditions are quiet  (K=0 to 2) to unsettled (K=3) (estimated NOAA Kp 1 to 2 and K_Izmiran 1 to 3). Mainly quiet to unsettled conditions are expected to continue for the next 48 hours.
SIDC

Equipment: Coronado 90 + SBIG 8300s + LX75
Processing: Photoshop
Date: 01/05/14
Time UT: 19:00
Exposure 0.8 sec.

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