Diary News Feed

Sunspot group 4478 has reached the largest size of all the groups in 2026. Its current area is almost 1,200 units (the exact value is 1,190). The previous largest group, No. 4366, observed in February, produced an X8.1 flare and, in passing, broke the 21st-century record for the total number of strong flares, with an area of 1,100 units at its peak.

Active region 4478, which appeared in Earth's field of view just three days ago, is rapidly growing and has now reached an area of 825 m.s.p. (a unit of measurement for sunspot area), making it the second-largest active region of the year. Among the approximately 160 sunspot groups recorded since January 1, it is second only to region 4366, observed in the first half of February.

A weak magnetic storm of G1 magnitude is observed. The geomagnetic event began around midnight with moderate disturbances and reached storm level approximately three hours ago. The cause of this phenomenon remains a mystery—it can be seen in the lower graph: a rapid increase in solar wind velocity due to the influence of a coronal hole.

The Sun enters the new week with increased activity. On Sunday, two consecutive significant flares were recorded: M2.6 (peaking at 5:46 AM Moscow time) and M6.8 (late in the day, at 10:29 PM Moscow time). Both events are the strongest since June 3, or the last three weeks.

Solar activity is visibly entering its traditional summer hibernation, this time accompanied by a general decline in the solar cycle. The star is rather dull, with nothing to see.

The scientific unit's archive has opened data on magnetic storms from January 1, 1932, for external access. The archive contains information on the KP geomagnetic Index (KP). Some of the data has been verified by key international sources: NOAA and GFZ.

According to calculations, the officially declared completed and almost forgotten surge in solar activity at the beginning of the month will lead today to a strong (up to G3 level) magnetic storm of a planetary scale.

Based on the plasma parameters currently recorded in the space surrounding Earth, the geomagnetic event has concluded. Minor residual disturbances remain, sustained primarily by the increased solar wind velocity. Other parameters (temperature, density, and magnetic field strength) have returned to normal.

A flare plasma from the Sun reached Earth at approximately 4:00 UT. The plasma's measured parameters are currently significantly lower than predicted. The velocity is particularly noticeable, hovering around 500 km/s, while models predicted an impact velocity exceeding 1,000 km/s.

The onset of a strong and prolonged magnetic storm of category G3 is expected this evening Moscow time as a result of the arrival of several (two or three) plasma clouds at once to the Earth, ejected yesterday by the Sun in the direction of the Earth as a result of a series of strong flares.