Issued
at 1135 UTC October 28 2003. (October 29 12:35 AM NZDST time)
Hello people... Sorry if some of you receive twice, but
I have chosen to send this to my general astronomy list as well as the aurora
list... I have good reason.
This is the biggest X-class flare I have
ever seen!!!
At 1105 UTC an X-17.2 solar flare erupted from
active region 486. The region producing this flare is almost on the solar
meridian meaning we are likely to be in the direct line of fire.
This could be the BIG ONE!! If this flare acts the
way we are thinking it will, then we will be in for a superb auroral display in
the coming 36 hours...
I'll be in touch...
At present, solar conditions are these: velocity
is 835 km/sec. Density is 1.7. Bt is 11.2 and the Bz is + 2.2. The
predicted Kp index for the next hour is 4+.
Solar activity is still high, and further eruptions
are expected to continue over the next 72 hours.
Graham Palmer
Mahora.
Hastings, New
Zealand.