CME Errupts On December 18

Space Weather

Today's solar flare as seen through an H-alpha filter

SOLAR ERUPTION: A C7-class solar flare erupted near the diminutive sunspot 9269 today at 11:12 UT (6:12 a.m. EST). Soon afterward, SOHO coronagraphs recorded a full-halo coronal mass ejection (CME) that left the Sun traveling faster than 345 km/s. The CME could trigger aurora later this week (perhaps Wednesday night) when it hits Earth's magnetosphere.