THE GRINCH STOLE MY GEOMAGNETIC STORM: Arctic sky watchers hoping for a geomagnetic storm were disappointed on Christmas when a CME did *not* hit Earth's magnetic field. The incoming storm cloud either missed or it is moving much more slowly than NOAA forecast models predicted. Either way, a storm is now unlikely this weekend.

Solar wind
speed: 407.7 km/sec
density: 15.3 protons/cm3
Updated: Today at 1430 UT

X-ray Solar Flares
6-hr max: C1 0953 UT Dec27
24-hr: C3 2012 UT Dec26
Updated: Today at: 1435 UT

Daily Sun: 27 Dec 21

Although sunspot AR2916 continues to grow, its magnetic field has simplified, decreasing the chance of flares from this behemoth active region. Credit: SDO/HMI

Planetary K-index
Now: Kp= 2 quiet
24-hr max: Kp= 2 quiet

Interplanetary Mag. Field
Btotal: 13.6 nT
Bz: 6.4 nT north
Updated: Today at 1429 UT

BIG SUNSPOT TURNS TOWARD EARTH: One of the biggest sunspots of Solar Cycle 25 is facing Earth. AR2916 has multiple dark cores larger than Earth and sprawls more than 140,000 km from end to end. These dimensions make it an easy target for backyard solar telescopes.

Solar wind
speed: 459.5 km/sec
density: 7.1 protons/cm3
Updated: Today at 1645 UT

X-ray Solar Flares
6-hr max: M1 1611 UT Dec28
24-hr: M1 0401 UT Dec28
Updated: Today at: 1650 UT

Daily Sun: 28 Dec 21

AR2916 is big and quiet. The sunspot has a relatively simple 'beta-class' magnetic field that poses little threat for strong flares. (Famous last words?) Credit: SDO/HMI

Planetary K-index
Now: Kp= 1 quiet
24-hr max: Kp= 3 quiet

Interplanetary Mag. Field
Btotal: 5.5 nT
Bz: 4.5 nT north

Updated: Today at 1645 UT

Coronal Holes: 28 Dec 21

Earth is inside a stream of solar wind flowing from this far-northern 'polar crown' coronal hole. Credit: SDO/AIA

M-CLASS SOLAR FLARE: Rash-like sunspot AR2918 erupted during the early hours of Dec. 28th (0401 UT), producing a M1.8-class solar flare: movie. A pulse of X-rays ionized the top of Earth's atmosphere; this, in turn, caused a minor shortwave radio blackout over Australia: map. First-look data suggest no Earth-directed CME will emerge from the blast site.