An asymmetric halo CME was observed by SOHO/LASCO-C2 with first measurement at 18:24 UTC. The main direction of propagation is to the southwest. The event was also observed in SOHO/LASCO-C3, STEREO A/COR2 and (partly in) STEREO B/COR2 imagery data. Based on time/height measurements of SOHO/LASCO data the initial CME speed is estimated at 2353 km/s. Analyses based on stereoscopy provide an estimate of around 1900 km/s. Using the drag-based
propagation model (DBM) with a different speed values at 20 solar radii of 1800 to 2300 km/s, the arrival time of this CME is estimated on January 9 between 2:00 and 7:00 UTC.
In addition, also four C flares and one M flare occurred during the past 24 hours. Besides Catania sunspot region 98 (NOAA AR 1944), also Catania sunspot region 94 (NOAA AR 1947) was responsible for this flaring activity. On January 8 an M3.6 flare erupted from Catania sunspot region 94, peaking
at 3:47 UTC. This event was associated with a narrow CME with first measurement in SOHO/LASCO-C2 at 4:36 UTC, which is not expected to be geo-effective. The event was combined with a metric type II radio burst with an estimated shock speed of 697 km/s (estimate from Learmonth).
The second proton event of this week is still in progress. Very high proton flux values were reached; with a maximum of about 950 sfu for >10MeV protons; near 50 sfu for >50MeV protons and near 4 sfu for >100MeV, during the past few hours.
The likelihood for more flares during the next 48 hours remains high; 99% for C flares, 75% for M flares and 50% for X flares. The proton flux is expected to further decline, but may rise again in case of more M or X flares. A shock in the solar wind data was observed on January 7 around 14:20 UTC.
Solar wind speed, density and temperature show an abrupt increase, as well as the magnitude
of the interplanetary magnetic field. The solar wind speed reached a value of 450 km/s, then was declining and currently has a value of 350 km/s. The magnitude of the interplanetary magnetic field has
achieved a maximum value of 9 nT. The Bz-component is fluctuating between -8 and +4
nT. The shock is probably related to the arrival of the CME that erupted on January 4 at 21:25 UTC. The estimated NOAA Kp reached a maximum value of 3. Minor to severe storm (K=5 to 8) conditions are expected, due to arrival of the above mentioned CME of January 7. Aurorae might be seen at higher latitudes on January 9 until the morning of January 10 under clear sky conditions.
SIDC
Equipment: Coronado 90 + SBIG 8300s + LX75
Processing: Photoshop
Date: 01/08/14
Time UT: 15:00
Exposure 0.8 sec.
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