[Flare] Intense Solar Flare Alert - 7 September

[flare at spacew.com]

MAJOR SOLAR FLARE ALERT

Issued: 23:30 UTC, 07 September 2005
Solar Terrestrial Dispatch
www.spacew.com

Synopsis:

     A significant major class X17.1/3B (optical is an estimate due to limb 
proximity) solar flare erupted from the Sun at 17:40 UTC on 7 September. A high velocity coronal mass ejection was also associated with this event. The 
trajectory is dominantly well to the southeast of the Earth. At the most,
we may see a minor grazing impact from the extreme western edge of the shock
sometime on 9 September (perhaps mid-day-ish, although the uncertainty is 
large). This event was associated with a confirmed white-light component, as 
reported by Holloman solar observatory. The white-light flare was visible 
directly on the east limb (at E89). In addition, intense radio emissions
were observed with this event, including a 27,000 sfu tenflare and a 37,000 
sfu burst at 15.4 GHz. An intense Type II radio burst was observed at 17:42 
UTC and had an associated estimated shock velocity of 1860 km/sec. A moderate
Type IV burst was also observed at 17:50 UTC.

     Region 10808 is responsible for this event and is synonymous with old
Region 10798. Region 808 is expected to continue to produce occassional major
flare activity during the next two weeks (possibly X10 or greater). It has 
been a fairly prolific producer of energetic events, as has been evidenced by 
back-sided coronal mass ejection activity during the last two weeks. Until it becomes more clearly visible during the next several days, this assumption will 
hold. It is presently too close to the limb to discern any detail.


** End of Alert **