A series of three CMEs is now heading for Earth. The first two, launched by M-class flares on August 7th, are relatively minor. The third, launched by yesterday’s X-flare is more potent. Striking Earth in succession on Aug. 9th, 10th, and 11th, the three CMEs could spark geomagnetic storms as strong as category G3 with mid-latitude auroras in the USA and Europe.

Strong X-Class Solar Flare and Earth Directed CME
Active sunspot AR3777 just produced its most powerful solar flare yet–an X1.3-class explosion on Aug. 8th (19:35​ UT). Of greater interest is the coronal mass ejection (CME). Soon after the flare, SOHO coronagraphs detected a halo CME heading straight for Earth.

This CME is moving faster than 1,000 km/s (2.2 million mph) and it will likely arrive no later than Aug. 11th, adding its effect to that of two earlier CMEs already en route.

#Xflare​ #CME​ #solarstorm​
Images credit: nemesis maturity channel, NOAA/SWPC, AIA/SDO, SOHO/LASCO, helioviewer.org
Music credit: YouTube Audio Library
Kurt – Cheel