Live status — NASA DONKI
Calm — Quiet Solar Conditions
No major space weather currently in progress. The Sun is producing the usual background of low-energy A-, B-, or C-class flares, and Earth’s magnetosphere is undisturbed.
- Latest flare
- M6.8
- 4 d ago
- Peak Kp (7 d)
- Quiet
- Below storm threshold
- Last CME
- 11 h ago
- last 7 days
Data from NASA DONKI. Page rebuilds every 6 hours.
Space Weather Today: Live Solar Flares, Geomagnetic Storms & Cosmic Activity
Is there space weather today? No — conditions are calm, with only low-level background flares and an undisturbed magnetosphere. This page pulls live data from NASA DONKI (Database Of Notifications, Knowledge, Information) and pairs it with honest astronomy plus the traditional astrology framing — clearly labeled as tradition, not prediction.
Recent Solar Flares (Last 7 Days)
Flares are classified by X-ray peak flux — A and B are background, C is common, M is moderate, X is extreme. M-class and X-class flares can disturb radio communications and trigger geomagnetic storms when paired with an Earth-directed CME.
| Class | Begin (UTC) | Source Region | Instruments |
|---|---|---|---|
| M6.8 | Jun 21, 2026, 19:17 UTC | S09E57AR14473 | GOES-P: EXIS 1.0-8.0 |
| M2.6 | Jun 21, 2026, 02:25 UTC | S08E67AR14473 | GOES-P: EXIS 1.0-8.0 |
| M1.0 | Jun 20, 2026, 14:50 UTC | S10E80AR14473 | GOES-P: EXIS 1.0-8.0 |
| M1.3 | Jun 20, 2026, 01:26 UTC | S12E70AR14472 | GOES-P: EXIS 1.0-8.0 |
Source: NASA DONKI /FLR endpoint. Times shown in UTC.
Current & Recent Geomagnetic Storms
The Kp index measures disturbance of Earth’s magnetic field on a 0–9 scale. NOAA’s G-scale starts at Kp 5 (G1, minor) and tops out at Kp 9 (G5, extreme). Strong storms make aurora visible at lower latitudes and can degrade GPS and HF radio.
No geomagnetic storms recorded by NASA in the last 7 days. Earth’s magnetosphere has been quiet.
Source: NASA DONKI /GST endpoint. Kp values reported by NASA aggregate multiple ground-based magnetometer networks.
Recent Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs)
A CME is a cloud of magnetized plasma flung from the Sun. Earth-directed CMEs are the main driver of geomagnetic storms, but most CMEs miss us entirely — the Sun is a sphere and Earth is a small target.
Jun 26, 2026, 02:00 UTC (11 h ago)
364 km/sSource: S15W120
CME observed to the SW in SOHO LASCO C2/C3, GOES CCOR-1, and STEREO A COR2. The source is a farsided filament eruption centered around approximately S15W120, near former AR 14469. Observed as filament ejecta and moving field lines over the SW limb in SDO AIA 131/171/193/304 starting around 2026-06-26T01:16Z. Also observed on-disk as filament ejecta, brightening, and field line movement from former AR 14469 in STEREO A EUVI 195/304 starting around 2026-06-26T01:15Z.
Jun 26, 2026, 00:24 UTC (13 h ago)
332 km/sSource: —
CME first seen to the SE in SOHO LASCO C2 starting at 2026-06-26T00:24Z. It is also seen to the SE in SOHO LASCO C3 and GOES CCOR-1 but is not seen in STEREO A COR2. The source is most likely some opening field lines seen beyond the limb in SDO AIA 193 starting around 2026-06-25T23:34Z.
Jun 25, 2026, 23:48 UTC (13 h ago)
440 km/sSource: —
CME first seen to the W in SOHO LASCO C2 starting at 2026-06-25T23:48Z. This leading edge is extremely faint in SOHO LASCO C2 and is not seen in SOHO LASCO C3 or GOES CCOR-1. The front is best seen to the W in STEREO A COR2. Measurement indicates that the source of this CME is far-sided, but the start time is covered by data gaps in STEREO A EUVI.
Jun 25, 2026, 23:00 UTC (14 h ago)
299 km/sSource: —
Narrow CME first seen to the SW in SOHO LASCO C2 starting at 2026-06-25T23:00Z. It is also seen to the SW in SOHO LASCO C3 and GOES CCOR-1 but is not seen in STEREO A COR2. No source candidate has been found on the Earth-facing disk, so the source is most likely far-sided.
Jun 25, 2026, 21:45 UTC (16 h ago)
378 km/sSource: —
Narrow CME first seen to the NW in GOES CCOR-1 starting around 2026-06-25T21:24Z. It is mostly obscured by the pylon in SOHO LASCO C3 and is covered by real-time data gaps in SOHO LASCO C2 and STEREO A COR2. The source of this CME is most likely some minor field line movement seen beyond the NW limb in SDO AIA 171 beginning around 2026-06-25T21:00Z.
Jun 25, 2026, 21:38 UTC (16 h ago)
332 km/sSource: —
CME first seen to the W part way into the FOV of STEREO A COR2. This CME is only seen in STEREO A COR2, and the start is covered by a real-time data gap. The start of this CME is also covered by a data gap in STEREO A EUVI. The front is only visible for three frames and is later overtaken by CME: 2026-06-25T23:48Z.
Jun 25, 2026, 21:15 UTC (16 h ago)
242 km/sSource: S06E64 · AR14478
Very narrow CME first seen to the E in GOES CCOR-1 starting around 2026-06-25T21:15Z. It is also seen to the E in SOHO LASCO C3. It is covered by real time data gaps in STEREO A COR2 and SOHO LASCO C2. The source of this CME is most likely some nearly continuous eruptive activity from AR 14478 (S06E64).
Jun 25, 2026, 19:36 UTC (18 h ago)
269 km/sSource: —
Narrow front first seen to the W in SOHO LASCO C2 starting around 2026-06-25T19:36Z. It is also seen to the W in SOHO LASCO C3 and GOES CCOR-1 but is not seen in STEREO A COR2. This front is most likely additional outflow following CME: 2026-06-25T14:38Z.
Jun 25, 2026, 16:36 UTC (21 h ago)
230 km/sSource: —
CME first seen to the W in SOHO LASCO C2 starting around 2026-06-25T16:36Z. It is also seen to the W in SOHO LASCO C3 and GOES CCOR-1 and to the SW in STEREO A COR2. No independent source has been found for this CME. It is most likely outflow following CME: 2026-06-25T14:38Z.
Jun 25, 2026, 14:38 UTC (23 h ago)
400 km/sSource: —
CME observed to the SW in STEREO A COR2, not yet visible in SOHO LASCO C2/C3 due to a downlink gap and GOES CCOR-1 due to a data gap. The source is a filament eruption over the SW limb from Earth, and on-disk for STEREO A. Observed as filament ejecta over the SW limb in SDO AIA 304 starting at 2026-06-25T13:25Z and also in GOES SUVI 304. Observed on-disk brightening and field line movement in STEREO A EUVI 195/304 starting at 2026-06-25T13:25Z near former AR 14469, putting the approximate center filament location ~S15W115. Also observed as field line movement and filament ejecta in SDO AIA 131/171/193.
Jun 25, 2026, 13:26 UTC (24 h ago)
287 km/sSource: —
Faint CME observed to the NW in SOHO LASCO C2/C3 and GOES CCOR-1. The front starts slow and faint in LASCO C2, becoming more defined further into the respective fields of view. No distinct source is observed for this event, an eruption in SDO AIA 193 from AR 14470 at 2026-06-25T14:37Z was a culprit but occurs too late for the slow start time of this front.
Jun 25, 2026, 03:36 UTC (34 h ago)
328 km/sSource: —
Faint CME observed to the SE in SOHO LASCO C2/C3 and GOES CCOR-1, and potentially to the SW in STEREO A COR2, it is difficult to resolve but a faint feature is visible in COR2A white light imagery only. No direct source is observed for this event, likely far-sided, and may be visible as weak field line movement in SDO AIA 171 around 2026-06-25T03:31Z.
Source: NASA DONKI /CME endpoint. Notes are NASA forecaster summaries.
What Is Space Weather, Astronomically?
"Space weather" is shorthand for the constantly changing conditions in the volume of space between the Sun and Earth — and across our magnetosphere, ionosphere, and upper atmosphere. The Sun drives almost all of it. Three phenomena dominate the daily weather report: solar flares, coronal mass ejections (CMEs), and the geomagnetic storms they can trigger here at home.
A solar flare is a sudden burst of electromagnetic radiation released when magnetic field lines on the Sun snap and reconnect. Energy that built up over hours is released in minutes — mostly as X-rays and ultraviolet light. That radiation reaches Earth at the speed of light, taking about eight minutes. NASA and NOAA classify flares by their peak X-ray flux: A and B classes are background noise; C is common and harmless to Earth; M is moderate and can cause brief radio blackouts; X is the most intense, capable of triggering wide-area radio interference and, if paired with a CME, strong geomagnetic storms.
A coronal mass ejection is something larger and slower: a billion-ton cloud of plasma and magnetic field hurled into the solar wind. CMEs travel between roughly 250 and 3,000 kilometres per second and take 15 hours to 4 days to reach Earth. Most miss us. Some pass through us and, depending on the magnetic alignment, can pour energy into the magnetosphere and cause a geomagnetic storm.
A geomagnetic storm is what happens when an Earth-directed CME, or a fast solar-wind stream from a coronal hole, disturbs Earth’s magnetic field. The disturbance is measured by the Kp index (planetary K, 0–9). At Kp 5 and above, NOAA assigns a G-scale rating (G1 minor through G5 extreme). Strong storms can degrade GPS positioning, disrupt HF radio used by aviation and shortwave broadcasters, and — most visibly — push the aurora down from the polar circles to mid-latitudes.
Solar Flare Classification (A, B, C, M, X)
Each letter represents an order of magnitude in peak X-ray flux measured by GOES satellites. Within each class, a number from 1 to 9 indicates where in that decade the flare falls — e.g. M5 is five times stronger than M1, and X1 is ten times stronger than M1.
- AThe quietest end of the scale — solar background. Undetectable to anyone not running an X-ray sensor in space.
- BSlightly above background. No effects on Earth. NASA reports these but they pass without notice.
- CCommon, especially near solar maximum. Few noticeable effects on Earth — perhaps a faint, brief degradation of HF radio on the sunlit side.
- MModerate. Can cause brief radio blackouts in polar regions and minor radiation events at high altitude. Often paired with CMEs that may produce minor geomagnetic storms.
- XExtreme. Wide-area HF radio blackouts on the sunlit hemisphere, possible GPS errors, and strong geomagnetic storms if an Earth-directed CME follows. The strongest recorded flare (Nov 4, 2003) is estimated at roughly X45.
Geomagnetic Storm Scale (G1 – G5)
NOAA’s G-scale translates the Kp index into plain-language severity. Higher numbers mean stronger storm currents, brighter and lower-latitude aurora, and more disruption to radio, GPS, and (at the extreme end) power grids.
| Level | Kp | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| G1 — Minor | 5 | Weak power-grid fluctuations; aurora visible at high latitudes (northern Canada, Scandinavia). |
| G2 — Moderate | 6 | HF radio fading at high latitudes; aurora visible as far south as the northern US states. |
| G3 — Strong | 7 | Surface charging on satellites; intermittent GPS errors; aurora visible in mid-latitude states. |
| G4 — Severe | 8 | Possible widespread voltage control problems; GPS degraded for hours; aurora as far south as Alabama. |
| G5 — Extreme | 9 | Possible grid blackouts, transformer damage, HF radio out for days. Aurora visible near the equator. Rare — the May 2024 Gannon Storm reached G5. |
Space Weather in Astrology Tradition
Classical astrology does not have a concept of "solar flare" — the X-ray sensor that lets us measure them only went into orbit in the 1970s. But the Sun has always been central to the system. In Western astrology, the Sun governs vitality, identity, the conscious self, and the will. Periods when the Sun is, astronomically, more active are sometimes read by modern astrologers as a thematic amplification of that solar archetype: a season for clarity about who you are and what you actually want.
A common modern pairing is to read active space weather alongside other transits — particularly Mercury retrograde — as a "double-amplified" reflection period: the Sun stirring up identity questions while Mercury asks you to review what you’ve already said and built. Some astrologers also align CMEs with the more dramatic, change-the-channel transits (Uranus stations, eclipses), reading them as symbolic invitations to release what no longer fits.
None of this is predictive. The honest framing is that space weather is a measurable astronomical phenomenon, and the astrology layer is a reflective tradition that pairs an external rhythm with internal practice. A C-class flare is not "going to" do anything to your week. But the act of noticing solar activity, in tradition, can be a useful anchor for asking: where am I overheating right now, and what wants to slow down?
What Space Weather Does Not Mean
Space weather is a real, measurable phenomenon — and like astrology, it is surrounded by overclaims. None of the following are supported by current science.
"Solar flares cause earthquakes."
No scientifically established connection. Studies looking for correlations between solar activity and seismic events consistently find no causal mechanism and no statistically robust relationship. Earthquakes are driven by tectonic stress; solar flares are electromagnetic phenomena. The two are not physically coupled.
"Geomagnetic storms make people irritable."
Weak and inconclusive science. A handful of older epidemiological studies report tiny statistical associations with things like headaches, hospital admissions, or heart-rate variability, but the effects are small, inconsistent, and contested. There is no established mechanism by which a geomagnetic storm at the magnetosphere alters human mood.
"Space weather is dangerous to humans on Earth."
For almost everyone, no. Earth’s atmosphere absorbs the X-ray and UV burst from flares, and the magnetosphere deflects most of the charged particles from CMEs. The genuine risk groups are astronauts (especially on spacewalks), high-altitude polar-route pilots and aircrew (slightly elevated radiation dose on the strongest events), and operators of GPS- or HF-radio-dependent systems.
"Solar flares are part of an astrology prediction."
No — they are astronomy, not astrology. Flares can be measured, classified, and predicted within statistical bounds. The astrological framing on this page is a tradition layered on top of that astronomy — a way of paying reflective attention, not a forecast about your life.
How to Follow Space Weather (Trusted Sources)
We pull this page from NASA DONKI on a 6-hour cycle. If you want real-time updates or aurora alerts, these are the primary feeds the rest of the field uses.
- NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center — the US government’s operational forecast office. Real-time Kp dial, 3-day forecast, G-scale alerts.
- NASA DONKI — the database that powers this page. Free public API; sign-up for an api.nasa.gov key gives you 1,000 requests/hour.
- SpaceWeatherLive — community dashboard with aurora forecasts, solar imagery, and an active forum.
- NOAA planetary K-index (raw JSON) — current Kp readings updated every three hours.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is space weather affecting me right now?
No — conditions are currently calm. The Sun is producing only low-level background flares and Earth’s magnetosphere is undisturbed. The most recent solar flare on file was class M6.8. For people on the ground, even strong space weather rarely produces direct health effects — Earth’s atmosphere and magnetosphere shield us. The exceptions are astronauts, high-altitude pilots on polar routes, and radio/GPS-dependent systems.
What is the difference between a solar flare and a CME?
A solar flare is a sudden burst of electromagnetic radiation (mostly X-rays and UV) from the Sun’s surface — it arrives at Earth in about eight minutes. A coronal mass ejection (CME) is a cloud of plasma and magnetic field hurled into space; it travels much slower (one to four days to reach Earth) and is what actually drives most geomagnetic storms and auroras. Flares and CMEs often happen together, but not always.
Can solar flares affect my mood?
There is no strong scientific evidence that solar flares or geomagnetic storms directly affect human mood. A small body of older research has suggested very weak statistical correlations with things like headaches or sleep disruption, but the effects (if real) are tiny and disputed. In Western astrology tradition, periods of heightened solar activity are sometimes treated as a symbolic invitation to slow down — but that is reflective framing, not measured cause and effect.
What is the strongest solar flare ever recorded?
The strongest flare in the modern monitoring era is the November 4, 2003 event, estimated at roughly X45 (the X-ray sensor saturated, so the exact peak is reconstructed). For comparison, anything above X10 is considered an extreme event. The 1859 "Carrington Event" is believed to have been even larger, but predates direct X-ray measurement.
Are we in solar maximum or solar minimum?
Solar Cycle 25 peaked around 2024–2026 — we are at or near solar maximum right now. That is why X-class flares, CMEs, and visible aurora at lower latitudes have all been more common in the last two years. Activity will gradually decline through the late 2020s before the next minimum.
How often do X-class flares happen?
During solar maximum, X-class flares typically occur a few times per month. During solar minimum, they may go many months between events. Solar Cycle 25 has produced an unusually high number of X-class flares for a moderate-amplitude cycle.
Can I see geomagnetic storms?
Yes — geomagnetic storms produce the aurora borealis (north) and aurora australis (south). During the strongest storms (G4 or G5), aurora can be visible at mid-latitudes, sometimes as far south as the northern United States, the United Kingdom, and parts of central Europe. NOAA SWPC and apps like "My Aurora Forecast" can warn you when conditions are favorable.
Is space weather connected to astrology?
Astronomically, no — there is no measured causal link between solar flares and the symbolic systems of Western astrology. In tradition, however, many astrologers treat heightened solar activity as a thematic echo of the Sun’s archetypal role (vitality, ego, identity) and pair it with transits like Mercury retrograde to suggest a reflective, slow-down period. We label that clearly as tradition, not prediction.
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This page is editorial. Live space weather data comes from NASA DONKI. The astrology framing is traditional Western symbolism, presented as reflective practice — not prediction. See our AI disclosure for editorial standards.