Solar Activity Report: June 1 - 7, 2026

Solar activity fluctuated from low to high and then returned to low levels during the reporting period. The quietest day was June 1, marked by isolated low‑intensity C‑class flares; the strongest event that day was a C1.5 flare from active region 14449 in the southwest portion of the solar disk. Activity increased to moderate levels with frequent C‑class flares and three M‑class events: M3.3 and M1.3 flares from active region 14455 in the northern hemisphere, and an M1.2 flare from active region 14461 near the southeast limb.

Activity rose further on June 3, reaching high levels when active region 14455 produced three major flares - M9.3, M7.7, and the week’s strongest event, an X1.0 flare. Following this peak, activity declined, with the strongest events being a C2.6 flare on June 4 and a C4.7 flare on June 5. Activity briefly returned to moderate levels on June 6 with an M1.8 flare from active region 14461. By June 7, conditions had settled back to low levels with only low‑intensity C‑class flares.

Several of the M‑ and X‑class flares were associated with coronal mass ejections (CMEs) that produced minor to moderate geomagnetic activity.

GONG/CT - Site Update

 The CT GONG shelter painting project was completed this week. The project included repairs and painting of the roof and perimeter fence. Many thanks to the NSF NOIRLab staff at CTIO for getting the project finished before the snowfall starts. 

Photos: Esteban Parkes / NSF NOIRLab CTIO

Large solar flares and CME eruption

On 3 June 2026, Active region 14455 produced several major (M- and X-class) flares and eruptions. Attached video shows solar activity during this period as observed by GONG/El Teide (Canary Islands). A major flare of M7.7 class peaked at about 7:00 UT and another flare of X1.0 class peaked at about 11:28 UT. Flares of this class are typically associated with the coronal mass ejections (CMEs) and in fact, there is an idication of the erupting material during the first flare (see dark filamentary structures appearing shortly after the flare brightenning). LASCO C3 coronagraph shows CME signatures for both events.

NSO/Kitt Peak Fourier Transform Spectrometer

 

https://noirlab.edu/public/images/noao-sun/

The Fourier Transform Spectrometer  (FTS) was operating at NSO's McMath-Pierce Solar Telescope from early 1970 (1971-1976) till 2001. In 2012, it was relocated to Old Dominion University in Norfolk, VA. The FTS data were used for solar and atmospheric physics research, and to develop several high-spectral resolution atlases of solar spectra: Flux from 296 to 1300 nm; Photosphere from 357 to 740.5 nm; Photosphere from 735 to 1123 nm; Infrared from 1100 to 5400 nm; Sunspot from 8100 to 21,000 nm plus photosphere from 16,000 to 22,000 nm; Sunspot umbra from 664.2 to 1123 nm; Sunspot umbra from 1160 to 5100 nm.

Recently, Mr. John Williams developed an interface for displaying solar spectra and extracting data from different FTS atlases. The interface can be accessed via fts.terrazoom.com.

Solar Activity Report: May 25 - 31, 2026

 

During the past week, solar activity was predominantly low, characterized by low‑intensity C‑class flares. The most significant event was an M1.1 flare on 29 May originating from Active Region 14455 in the northeast quadrant. All remaining activity consisted of low C‑class flares, and no Earth‑directed CMEs were identified.

GONG data processing update

 Processing of the network-merged daily velocity and magnetogram images,  p-mode-coefficient time series, and ring-diagram analysis products for GONG month 313,  and  the  p-mode frequency data products for central GONG month 312 is completed and the data products are now available.

Solar Activity Report: May 18 - 24, 2026

 Solar activity at the beginning of the week was at low levels, with the X‑ray flux holding in the B range except for a few low‑intensity C‑class flares. Activity dipped even further on 20 May, when the flux remained entirely below the B–C threshold. By mid‑day on 21 May, conditions shifted. Activity rose following three short‑duration, high‑intensity impulsive C‑class flares from Active Region 14436 as it approached the northwest limb: C5.6, C8.3, and C9.5. A more substantial increase occurred on 22 May, when an M2.3 flare erupted from just beyond the northwest limb, near the same active region, pushing activity into the moderate range. On 23 May, a series of low and medium intensity C‑class flares were recorded and the week concluded with low flaring activity. Most of the flaring during the last two days originated from newly emerged Active Region 14446 near the southeast limb. Multiple CMEs were observed in coronagraph imagery, but none were Earth‑directed.

Helioseismic map of the far hemisphere (see the attached pictures) reveals two strong active regions, marked by while circles, forecast to return to Earth view on 27 and 31 May.  A third region, marked by a red circle, shows a detectable helioseismic signature, but its probability of appearance remains below our confidence threshold. If it continues to strengthen, it should reach the east limb on 29 May. The far‑side active region mentioned in last week’s report has now rotated onto the front side and has been assigned NOAA 14446.