6 Days of Solar Storms /A Half Million km Dark Filament & Sunspot AR2585 are Facing Earth (+Video)

G1 (Minor) to G2 (Moderate) geomagnetic storms dominated the field on 01 September through early on o6 September due to continued effects from a coronal hole high speed stream.

A coronal hole high speed stream (CH HSS) began to rotate into an Earth-connected position midway into the 1 September UTC-day.

Last rotation (approximately 27 days ago), this CH HSS was responsible for several days of geomagnetic response no higher than active levels (K4). 

This time, however, the CH HSS connected well with Earth and solar wind speeds were higher – reaching up to 700 – 800 km/s.

The high solar wind speeds and periods of favorable orientation, elicited geomagnetic reaction up to the G1-G2 (Minor-Moderate) storm levels. 

The CH HSS is still causing solar wind speeds from 550-600 km/s as of 6 Sep, however geomagnetic responses have decreased and more recently ranged from quiet to active.

Because of continuing CH HSS effects, periods of active (K5) conditions are still expected on 6 September.

Solar Wind Speed: 528 km/sec 
Solar Wind Magnetic Fields: Bt 5 nT, Bz 3 nT
http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/

DARK SOLAR FILAMENT: A dark filament of magnetism is snaking across the last 48 hours. It’s measuring more than 450,000 km from end-to-end, the bushy structure is an easy target for properly filtered backyard telescopes.

The filament is filled with plasma held above the surface of the sun by magnetic lines of force. Structures like this one tend to be unstable. If the filament collapses, it could fall to the surface below, igniting an explosion called a ‘Hyder flare.” The blast, if it occurs, would be Earth directed.
http://spaceweather.com/

Region 2585 showed continued decay in its intermediate spots, penumbral consolidation in its leader, and was the sole numbered sunspot on the solar disk.
There is a chance for C-class flaring and a slight chance for an M-Class (R1/R2-Minor/Moderate) event
today (06 Sep).
http://www.solarham.net/

Clips, images credit: NOAA/SWPC & NASA/SDO 

Music credit: YouTube Audio Library