SolarSteph 🌞

There are two eruptions headed towards us including the filament eruption from yesterday and the HUXt model is predicting that they should arrive any time from Wednesday afternoon onwards. The eruptions have moderate speeds so we are not expecting spectacular aurora but we shall see 🌞💨 🛰️ 🌍️

Although sunspot number is low doesn't mean the Sun is being lazy. 💤 There was a filament eruption associated with an M class flare this morning on the east limb (not earth directed). It also looks as if there is an ongoing eruption at the centre of the disk 🌞 💥 💨

There is currently a long, thin extended coronal hole facing Earth hence, we are currently feeling the effects of its fast solar wind for the next couple of days, minor geomagnetic storms possible. 🌞🛰️ 🌍️

UKRI funding changes ‘pushing junior researchers abroad’ - Research Professional News Disruptions to core funding streams raise fears for a “generation” of early career researchers

NEW on RPN:

Hits to research grant funding at UKRI are already causing junior researchers to leave the country, according to some academics, amid fears that those at the start of their careers are set to be “disproportionately” impacted. #ECRchat

www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...

Early Career Researchers Response to UKRI Investment Approach Dear PhD students, PDRAs and early career researchers, You may be aware of a recent UKRI funding restructure announcement (there is a discussion here:  . In STFC-funded science,  particle physics, …

UK Solar Physics early career researchers rightly deeply concerned at the savage cuts to #STFC science (and I'd add apparent contempt for their plight by #UKRI). They have an open letter... uksolphys.org/general-news...

What has the Sun been up to over the last 24 hours? Well, not much. We have AR 4366 that is rotating off the visible disk, producing a string of C class flares as it does so. There's a small eruption that occurred in AR 4371 but that's all folks 🌞🫠

Looks like I spoke too soon, AR4366 has come back to life with an M class flare as it rotates towards the west limb of the Sun.... 🌞💥👀

If you are an early-career researcher worried about the threats to funding in Astronomy, nuclear and particle physics, you should consider signing this open letter👇

Thanks to @iansample.bsky.social at the Guardian for covering the devastating funding cuts that are being proposed for UK (astro)physics, and the dire impact these would have on young researchers. Will UKRI/STFC reconsider? Will the UKGov step in?🤞👩‍🔬🧪⚛️🔭

www.theguardian.com/science/2026...

The video I showed in my talk this morning at Astrofest, AR 4366 in different wavelengths as seen by the Solar Dynamics Observatory, not much really going on at the moment...🫠

This morning I am on my way to Astrofest where I will talk about recent results and exciting new observations of our Sun. Here’s a sneak previous 👀🌞💫☄️

What has AR4366 been up to? Well apart from that last X class flare nothing much. The emergence phase seems mostly over and the polarities are quite separated however, there is some sunspot rotation and shearing motions at the centre. Definitely keep an 👀 on this region!

Looks like the shock associated with the CME leaving the Sun on the 1st Feb has arrived. Will have to see how conditions develop through the evening…

This active region keeps on giving!! Over the last 3 days, it has produced ~30 flares, including the recent X4 flare This includes the recent impulsve X4 class flare (no eruption signatures reported). Complex emerging regions such as this one often have high flaring rates 🌞💥👀

Funding piece Modern astronomy is full of marvels. In recent years we have rejoiced in the success of the James Webb Space Telescope, and been puzzled by the surprisingly vibrant early Universe it is showing us. We...

I've updated my post on the funding crisis heading for British astronomy: docs.google.com/document/d/1.... UKRI made clear that astro and particle physics are being subject to unique cuts due to rising costs elsewhere. This looks like a deliberate decision not to fund fundamental physics. 🔭 🧪

If it hits us maybe a minor geomagnetic storm but nothing extreme

Looks like AR 4366 fired off another X class flare but this is not associated with an eruption for now atleast… 💥👀

Probably a bit of both!

Currently we expect a glancing blow on 5th Feb from a complex CME that was ejected and associated with the flare on 1st Feb!

For those of you following the activity on the Sun this week, we have an active region (AR 4366) that recently produced a powerful X8 class flare. It seems to be building in size and complexity as it rotates across the Sun so this is definitely a region to watch 🌞💥💨🌍

Fuming 😡

Teacher: "you can usually tell the girls that want to do physics, they look a bit tomboy-ish"

#WomenInSTEM #ASPIRES3 @iop.org

Proposed budget cuts a catastrophe for UK astronomy The Royal Astronomical Society (RAS) is gravely concerned at the drastic cuts to support for UK astronomy outlined by the Science and Technology Facilities Council (...

The Royal Astronomical Society is gravely concerned at the drastic cuts to support for UK astronomy outlined by the Science and Technology Facilities Council.

Read our statement 👉 ras.ac.uk/news-and-pre...

Maastricht, The Netherlands (pic: L. Lemmens)

The Dutch coast at Noordwijk (pic: www.noordwijk.info)

View from Noordwijk, the Netherlands (Pic: ESA/R. Moorkens O'Reilly)

View from Noordwijk, the Netherlands (pic: ESA/R. Moorkens O'Reilly)

📷 The solar event earlier this week resulted in a severe G4-class geomagnetic storm, producing one of the most widely seen auroral displays across Europe for several years, visible from as far south as France across to Poland. Thanks for your pics! 🧪🔭👇

@esaspaceweather.esa.int @science.esa.int

⏰ Solar Orbiter session at EGU (3-8 May), deadline in a few days‼️
Session ST1.3 welcomes in-situ, remote sensing, multi-mission, and modeling/simulation studies.
Deadline: 15 Jan, 13:00 CET
Submit: www.egu26.eu/session/57165
See you in Vienna! 🌞
#SolarOrbiter #EGU26 #SolarPhysics

Are you (or do you know of) an undergrad with an interest in solar physics? Check out the Leiden/ESA Astrophysics Program for Summer Students (LEAPS 2026). Myself, Andy To and Henrik Eklund invite you to come work with us at ESTEC on "Catching the Solar Wind in Action". leaps.strw.leidenuniv.nl#none

Nah I was pleased to see your name!

Congrats Mat, totally well deserved!!

Fully-funded PhD opportunities Fully-funded PhD opportunities to join the Solar and Space Physics Research Group at Northumbria University

🎓 PhD opportunities now open at Northumbria University! 🚀
☀️ Join our Solar and Space Physics research group!
📅 October 2026 start
⏰ Deadline: 23rd January 2026
Apply now: www.northumbria.ac.uk/STFCphd
#PhD #SolarPhysics #SpaceWeather

Me too and you too - well done 😊

Yeah I didn’t hear anything either but Beatriz won!