Long duration M1.2 solar flare erupted from Region 1861

A long duration solar flare measuring M1.2 erupted at 15:41 UTC on October 17, 2013. The responsible region is "beta-gamma" classified AR 1861 located near the west limb. If CME was generated it would be directed mostly away from Earth.

NOAA SWPC forecasters estimated 30% chance for an M-class solar flare, and 1% chance for an X-class.

Image credit: NASA SWPC, SDO, EVE SAM

Sunspots

There are currently 9 numbered sunspot regions on the disk.

Active Regions – October 17, 2013. Image credit NASA SDO HMI

1861 – Beta-Gamma
1864 – Alpha
1865 – Beta-Delta
1867 – Beta
1869 – Beta
1870 – Beta
1871 – Alpha
1872 – Alpha
1873 – Beta

• Space weather in near real-time: SWS

Featured image courtesy of NASA/SDO and the AIA, EVE, and HMI science teams