Very strong wind

We have very strong wind blowing outside. No, I am not the wetherman, I am the spaceweatherman :-). The solar wind has just passed 900 km/s and the IMF Bz has gone negative. There is some chance of mid/low latitude aurora observing

Region 10930 produced a major X3.4/4B proton flare

Region 10930 changed as the positive polarity spots in the southern part of the main penumbra rotated eastwards. The magnetic delta structure became stronger. Further major flares are possible.

Region 10930 produced a major X3.4/4B proton flare peaking at 02:40 UTC on December 13. 4B is the maximum brightness on the brightness scale and occurs very rarely. Strong type II and IV radio sweeps were recorded and an intense proton storm started at Earth soon after the flare. It is likely that a major very fast Earth directed CME was caused by the flare.

Source: http://www.dxlc.com/solar/

X-6? class flare in progress

There is another X-class flare in progress! Satellies
have detected an X6-class solar flare at 2006-12-06 1850 UTC.See:
http://www.sec.noaa.gov/rt_plots/xray_1m.html

Make that an X9 flare!

From spaceweather.com: Earth-orbiting satellites detected a major X9-class solar flare this morning at 1035 UT (5:35 a.m. EST). The source: big, new sunspot 929, which is emerging over the Sun's eastern limb. GOES-13 captured this X-ray image of the blast:

Because of the sunspot's location near the limb, the flare was not Earth-directed. Future eruptions could be, however, because the Sun's spin is turning the spot toward Earth. Sunspot 929 will be visible for the next two weeks as it glides across the solar disk.

X8 solar flare!

Earth orbiting satellites detected an X8-class solar flare
at 2006-12-05 1040 UTC.

Deborah Scherrer