Sun news: It’s a quiet sun day (2025)

Sun news April 27: It’s a quiet sun day

(11 UTC to 11 UTC)

Today’s top story: Happy quiet sun day! The past day has been calm on the sun, with only two C (common) flares. There could be more action around the corner: a region just over the sun’s southeast limb (edge), observed via helioseismology, shows promise. We might already have observed some of its presence, in the form of eruptions over the limb (edge). In the meantime, two beautiful filaments erupted from the sun’s southeast quadrant. One from filaments was curved in a sigmoid (s-like) structure over AR4075 and erupted around 10 UTC on April 26. The other filament was lying across the solar disk just southeast of AR4075 and it erupted at about 13 UTC on April 26, 2025. Neither event is likely to have an Earth-directed component, but further analysis is needed to be more certain.

• Flare activity was low over the past 24 hours, with only two C (common) flares. The largest event was a C1.3 flare from a region in the sun’s southeast. The blast occurred at 8:18 UTC on April 27.
• The sun has 12 numbered active regions on the Earth-facing disk. All the active regions on the solar disk show low flaring potential, either alpha or beta magnetic configurations.
• Blasts from the sun? No Earth-directed coronal mass ejections (CMEs) were observed in available coronagraph imagery.
• Solar wind: Solar wind averaged between ~450 to ~400 km/s (1,007,000 mph to 894,775 mph) with a peak up to 475 (1,063,000 mph). At the time of this writing (11 UTC on April 26), the solar wind speed is about 415 km/s (about 941,750 mph). The total interplanetary magnetic field is at a low level. The Bz component (north-south orientation) has been northward most of the period. A southward Bz is more favorable for auroras.
• Geomagnetic activity: Earth’s geomagnetic field was at quiet levels (between Kp = 1 – 2) during the past day. Whatever minor effects were there were due to fast solar wind from the huge coronal hole becoming weaker.

What’s ahead? Sun-Earth forecast

• Low-to-moderate flare activity is expected in the coming day. The chance for M (moderate) flares is 25%, and the chance for X (strong) flares is 1% today.
• Geomagnetic activity forecast: At the time of this writing (11 UTC on April 27), geomagnetic activity is quiet at a Kp = 1 level. Quiet-to-unsettled conditions are expected for the rest of the day through April 27 as the high-speed solar wind continues to wane.

Sun news April 26: Fiery action on the eastern horizon

(11 UTC to 11 UTC)

After several days of quiet, where the sun has appeared to be in a lull, we now can see a large, active region churning on the sun’s far side, just beyond the eastern (incoming) limb. How can we see it on the far side of the sun? The answer is helioseismology, essentially using the sun’s vibrations, or “sound waves,” to probe its interior, much as seismic waves from earthquakes let us probe Earth’s interior. As our star rotates, this far-side region will soon come into view, potentially bringing renewed flare activity and space weather impacts. Stay tuned for updates.

• Flare activity was low over the past 24 hours, with only eight C (common) flares. The largest event was a C1.6 by active region AR4075 in the sun’s southeast. The blast occurred at 10:07 UTC on April 26. This sunspot region, AR4073 produced four of the eight C flares of the day.
• The sun has 11 numbered active regions on the Earth-facing disk. All the active regions on the solar disk show low flaring potential, either alpha or beta magnetic configurations. There are three newcomers. AR4074 emerged in the southwest near the limb (edge), plus we now see AR4076 in the northeast and AR4077 in the southeast.
• Blasts from the sun? No Earth-directed coronal mass ejections (CMEs) were observed in available coronagraph imagery.
• Solar wind: Solar wind averaged around 430 km/s (about 961,883 mph) with a peak up to 600 Km/s (1,342,000 mph). At the time of this writing (11 UTC on April 26), the solar wind speed is about 421 km/s (about 941,750 mph). The total interplanetary magnetic field is at a low to moderate level. The Bz component (north-south orientation) has been northward most of the period but turned southward briefly at the time of this writing. A southward Bz is more favorable for auroras.
• Geomagnetic activity: Earth’s geomagnetic field was at quiet levels between Kp = 1 – 2 during the observation period. This is due to the effects of fast solar wind from the huge coronal hole becoming weaker.

Sun news April 25: A sun snooze before the weekend?

(11 UTC to 11 UTC)

Over the past day, the sun produced fewer and lower-level flares. But not all is quiet on the sun. Remember that yesterday we reported a beautiful prominence, a huge rope of solar material and magnetic fields extending from the sun’s visible edge. Over the past day, the northwest horizon continued showing solar activity, originating from the sun’s far side. Meanwhile, on the Earth-viewed side of the sun, the filament channel activation we reported yesterday – where we can see plasma flowing along a filament channel on the sun – continued all day over the past day, too. And we saw the development of a sigmoid structure, a filament taking the shape of an “S,” at the center of the sun’s disk. The sun always has more!

• Flare activity continues at low levels, with only C (common) flares during the past 24 hours. This time, the largest flare was a C3.0 by an-as-yet-unnumbered incoming active region in the sun’s southeast. The blast took place at 4:05 UTC on April 25. Flare productivity decreased dramatically with only 6 C flares compared to 16 over the previous day.
• Today, the sun has nine numbered active regions on its Earth-facing side. Active region AR4070 lost its gamma region and is now showing a beta magnetic configuration. Similarly, all the rest of the sunspot regions currently have simpler alpha or beta magnetic configurations (and, therefore, lower flaring potential). There is a newcomer on the solar disk, AR4073, that emerged in the middle of the northeast quadrant.
• Blasts from the sun? No coronal mass ejections (CMEs) were observed in available coronagraph imagery.
• Solar wind: Solar wind averaged 500 km/s (about 1,133,000 mph) with peaks up to 570 Km/s (1,275,000 mph). At the time of this writing (11 UTC), the solar wind speed is about 461 km/s (about 1,031,000 mph). The solar wind reflects the waning influence of the high-speed solar wind stream from the huge coronal hole. The total interplanetary magnetic field is at a low to moderate level. The Bz component (north-south orientation) has been northward most of the time during the period. A southward Bz is more favorable for auroras.
• Geomagnetic activity: Earth’s geomagnetic field was at quiet-to-unsettled levels. Kp 4 level reached at 12 UTC on April 24. The rest of the period at (Kp = 2 -3) as effects of fast solar wind from the huge coronal hole were waning.

Sun news April 24: Spectacular prominence signals far side action

(11 UTC to 11 UTC)

A beautiful prominence – a huge rope of solar material and magnetic fields – erupted on the sun’s northwest limb (edge) in the past day. This solar tendril, far larger than Earth, likely originated in an explosion from a sunspot region just over the horizon. With the Earth-facing side of the sun relatively calm today, only featuring C-class flares, it seems the party is on the other side for now.

• Flare activity dropped to low levels over the past 24 hours with only C (common) flares. The largest event was a C3.9 from active region AR4064 in the sun’s northwest at 14:55 UTC on April 23.Flare productivity increased, with 16 C flares fired over the past day compared to six the previous day.
• The sun currently has eight numbered active regions on its Earth-facing side. Active region AR4070 developed a gamma region, now showing a beta-gamma magnetic configuration. All the rest of the sunspot regions have simpler alpha or beta magnetic configurations (and, therefore, lower flaring potential). There is a newcomer on the solar disk, AR4072, in the southeast quadrant.
• Blasts from the sun? No coronal mass ejections (CMEs) were observed in available coronagraph imagery.
• Solar wind: Solar wind averaged 500 km/s (about 1,133,000 mph) and peaked at 644 Km/s (1,440,000 mph). At the time of this writing (11 UTC), the solar wind speed is about 520 km/s (about 1,163,000 mph). This is the influence of a high-speed solar wind stream from the huge coronal hole, although this is waning. The total interplanetary magnetic field is at a moderate level. The Bz component (north-south orientation) has been mostly southward during the period and still is southward at the time of this writing. A southward Bz is more favorable for auroras.
• Geomagnetic activity: Earth’s geomagnetic field was at quiet-to-unsettled levels (Kp 3-4) as effects of fast solar wind from the huge coronal hole started to wane.

Sun news April 23: Goodbye and hello to colossal coronal holes

(11 UTC to 11 UTC)

Fast solar wind from a massive coronal hole on the south of the solar disk has been disturbing Earth’s magnetic field. It triggered G1 (minor) and G2 (moderate) geomagnetic storms. But now these effects are beginning to wane, as this huge coronal hole move out of geoeffective position, that is, a position on the sun where it is capable of affecting Earth. But wait! As this huge coronal hole leaves, another pretty big coronal hole is moving into position. The high speed solar wind from this second hole might start reaching us at Earth soon. And that could mean more auroras at high latitudes! Keep watching, aurora chasers.

• Flare activity remained at moderate levels again during the past 24 hours, thanks to an isolated M (moderate) flare. The flare was an M1.3 from active region AR4060 in the sun’s northwest at 11:34 UTC on April 22. It caused an R1 (minor) radio blackout that affected an area over Africa. Flare productivity was at the same level as yesterday, six flares, one M flare and five Cs.
• The sun has nine numbered active regions on its Earth-facing side. All the sunspot regions have simple alpha or beta magnetic configurations (and subsequent low flaring potential). There are three newcomers on the solar disk, AR4069 near the disk center, AR4070 in the southeast quadrant and AR4071 in the southwest near the limb (edge).
• Blasts from the sun? Three coronal mass ejections (CMEs) were observed in available coronagraph imagery. One from AR4065 at 9:36 UTC on April 22 might give Earth a glancing blow on April 25.
• Solar wind: Solar wind averaged 500 km/s (about 1,233,000 mph). At the time of this writing (11 UTC), the solar wind speed is about 468 km/s (about 1,047,000 mph). All this continued under the influence of high-speed solar wind stream from the coronal hole, but effects have begun to wane. Specialists anticipate a return to high levels of the solar wind up to 600 – 700 Km/s. The total interplanetary magnetic field now at low level. The Bz component (north-south orientation) has been mostly north oriented during the period but it moved southward at the time of this writing. A southward Bz is more favorable for auroras.
• Geomagnetic activity: Earth’s geomagnetic field was at quiet levels (Kp = 3) as effects of fast solar wind from the huge coronal hole started to wane.

Sun news April 22: Solar wind surge could bring auroras

(11 UTC to 11 UTC)

Earth’s magnetic field is currently being buffeted by a surge of fast solar wind, which is coming from a massive coronal hole on the south of the solar disk. This has already triggered a G1 (minor) geomagnetic storm, and G2 (moderate) storming is possible tonight. And that could mean auroras at high latitudes! Keep an eye out, aurora chasers.

• Flare activity remained at a moderate level over the past 24 hours thanks to an isolated M (moderate) flare. TheM1.9 flare came from active region AR4062 in the southwest at 18:37 UTC on April 21. It caused an R1 (minor) radio blackout that affected an area over Mexico. Flare productivity reduced to seven flares in the past 24 hours (one M flare and six Cs), down from 11 the day before. One of these C flares was a C9.9, so just a hair from being an M flare. It came from an as-yet-unnumbered region in the southeast at 1 UTC on April 22.
• The sun currently has seven numbered active regions as seen from Earth. Sunspot region AR4062 lost its gamma configuration and now all the sunspot regions have simpler alpha or beta configurations. Magnetic complexity is a signal for possible strong flaring. The more complex, the greater the chance for M and X flares.
• Blasts from the sun? No Earth-directed coronal mass ejections (CMEs) were observed in available coronagraph imagery during the past 24 hours.
• Solar wind: Solar wind speeds increased, averaging 620 km/s (about 1,387,000 mph) and peaking at 700 km/h (1,566,000). At the time of this writing (11 UTC), the solar wind speed is about 613 km/s (about 1,371,000 mph). This is due to the high-speed solar wind stream from the coronal hole. The total interplanetary magnetic field is increasing. The Bz component (north-south orientation) has been mostly southward during the period but it moved northward at the time of this writing. A southward Bz is more favorable for auroras.
• Geomagnetic activity: Late yesterday, Earth’s geomagnetic field was active, reaching G1 (minor) geomagnetic storming levels (Kp = 5). This activity is due to the arrival of fast solar wind from the huge coronal hole we have been observing.

Sun news April 21: Massive coronal hole sending solar wind our way

(11 UTC to 11 UTC)

Here comes the solar wind! Analysts have noticed an increase in the strength of the interplanetary magnetic field, along with an uptick in solar wind speeds. It’s a shift from a solar breeze to the stirrings of a solar gale, suggesting that Earth is starting to receive an anticipated high-speed solar wind stream from a massive coronal hole in the solar south. If confirmed, this could mean G1–G2 (minor–moderate) geomagnetic storming is on the way, likely tomorrow through Wednesday. Aurora watchers, stay tuned!

• Flare activity increased to a moderate level due to an isolated M (moderate) flare. This M1.0 flare came from over the southeast limb (edge) at 11:37 UTC on April 20. It caused an R1 (minor) radio blackout over Africa. The total flare production increased to 11 flares in the past 24 hours, from four the day before.
• The sun has seven numbered active regions on the Earth-facing disk. AR4062 retained its beta-gamma configuration and remains the only one with a complex magnetic structure. The remaining sunspot regions have simpler alpha or beta configurations. Magnetic complexity is a signal for possible strong flaring. The more complex, the greater the chance for M and X flares.
• Blasts from the sun? No Earth-directed coronal mass ejections (CMEs) were observed in available coronagraph imagery during the past 24 hours.
• Solar wind: Solar wind speeds averaged ~380–435 km/s (about 850,036-973,067 mph), increasing slightly over much of the past 24 hours, then ramping up toward the end of the period. At the time of this writing (11 UTC), the solar wind speed is about 520 km/s (about 1,163,000 mph). This could be the beginnings of the expected high-speed stream from a coronal hole. The total interplanetary magnetic field is increasing. The Bz component (north-south orientation) has been mostly southward during the period and is southward at the time of this writing. A southward Bz is more favorable for auroras.
• Geomagnetic activity:Earth’s geomagnetic field ranged between quiet and active for most of the past 24 hours and is currently active (Kp = 4).

Sun news April 20: Colossal coronal hole sends Earth its solar wind

(11 UTC to 11 UTC)

It’s a quiet Sun Day, with solar activity dropping to low levels: just four small C-class flares over the past 24 hours. But don’t get too comfortable! A giant coronal hole in the southern hemisphere is turning to face Earth, and the fast solar wind it’s sending our way is expected to arrive soon. This stream of solar plasma and embedded magnetic fields could rattle Earth’s magnetic field, sparking geomagnetic storms at G1 to G2 (minor to moderate) levels. Keep those aurora alerts handy. Auroral displays may light up high-latitude skies over the next two days!

• Flare activity dropped to a low level with four C (common) flares. This is a significant drop in level though the drop is only one flare in number.
• The sun has seven numbered active regions on the Earth-facing disk. AR4062 retained its beta-gamma configuration and remains the only one with a complex magnetic structure. The remaining sunspot regions have simpler alpha or beta configurations. Magnetic complexity is a signal for possible strong flaring. The more complex, the greater the chance for M and X flares.
• Blasts from the sun? No Earth-directed coronal mass ejections (CMEs) were observed in available coronagraph imagery during the past 24 hours.
• Solar wind: Solar wind speeds averaged ~350–400 km/s (about 782,928 – 894,775 mph). At the time of this writing (11 UTC), the solar wind speed is about 400 km/s (about 894,775 mph). The total interplanetary magnetic field is at a low level. The Bz component (north-south orientation) has been mostly southward during the period and is northward at the time of this writing. A southward Bz is more favorable for auroras.
• Geomagnetic activity:Earth’s geomagnetic field was quiet to unsettled over most of the past 24 hours with one 3-hour period of a G1 (minor) geomagnetic storm (Kp = 5) level starting at 00:55 UTC on April 20.

The sun in recent days

Earlier sun images

Sun images from our community

Are you a fan of sun images? We invite you all to send us your beautiful recent photos of sunspots and auroras. We love receiving them and sharing them! And to those of you who’ve already posted a photo to our community page, thank you.

Submit photos here

View community photos here

Bottom line: Sun news April 27, 2025. It is a calm sun day, with low flaring. Two beautiful filament eruptions in the sun’s southeast take the spotlight. We await a far-side region.

Find archived versions of past days’ sun news here.