That long-awaited coronal bomb (CME) 💣, which was supposed to arrive and throw a sky party like Dominika Cibulková at a bachelorette bash, left us a bit disappointed. We only recorded the actual impact on Friday 📆, and it was as weak as festival beer after 2 AM. Are we still under the influence of the remnants of this coronal mass ejection? Maybe so 🤔, but the current geomagnetic conditions are as far from the expected "moderate to strong storm" as I am from my fitness body after Christmas.
Sunspot number 4274 had been as quiet as Fico before elections 😴, but this morning around 07:30 it decided it was time for a proper fireworks show and fired off an X1.7 (R3-strong) solar flare! 🎇🔥 This little rascal still maintains its complex Beta-Gamma-Delta magnetic layout (sounds like some new energy drink, right? 🤣), which means it's still capable of producing M and X-class solar flares, while gradually moving toward the western limb of the sun.
After the eruption, a halo coronal mass ejection was detected 🌈👑, which is likely heading toward our little blue marble as well. NOAA (no, not that little coin pocket in your jeans, but the American atmospheric research agency 😜) and their ENLIL solar wind model expect this coronal mass ejection to arrive later on Tuesday, November 11 📱⏰. They even issued a moderate G2 geomagnetic storm warning ⚡ for both Tuesday the 11th and Wednesday the 12th of November.
So what does this mean for us ordinary mortals from Šírava and the surrounding area? 🇸🇰 The aurora could be visible as far as mid-latitudes (yes, even here in Slovakia, if the skies are clear!) 🌠✨, so if you're in the mood for the most beautiful natural light show with no admission fee, keep your fingers crossed! 🤞
I'll be monitoring space weather conditions with a beer 🍺 in hand and a juniper brandy 🥃 on standby. Who knows, maybe this solar show will provide better entertainment than Sunday television! 📺
Don't forget to follow ziara.sk for the freshest info on when to look up at the sky! 🔭 And if you see something green up there, it's not an alien or the ghost of your ex after five juniper brandies — it's just our beautiful aurora! 👽💚
Your Astronomer Cassandra ✨
