The ChipWitch

Orion Comes Home to Earth

Images

Monday, 12 December 2022

At 12:40 p.m. EST, Dec. 11, 2022, the Orion spacecraft for the Artemis I mission splashed down in the Pacific Ocean after a 25.5-day mission to the Moon.

×

Planetary Positions

24.11.2024 at 05:19:01 UTC

chart wheel

Planet	Longitude
The Sun	02 Sag 24' 58"
The Moon	15 Vir 11' 59"
Mercury	22 Sag 23' 45"
Venus	14 Cap 46' 09"
Mars	05 Leo 07' 55"
Jupiter	18 Gem 04' 35" R
Saturn	12 Pis 45' 29"
Uranus	24 Tau 56' 46" R
Neptune	27 Pis 11' 06" R
Pluto	00 Aqu 04' 57"

Solar Status

BZ Status:	4
Proton Density:	6.13
Proton Speed:	441.2 k/sec
KP Status:	1.67

Type	Nov 24	Nov 25	Nov 26
Active	25%	10%	10%
Minor	15%	5%	5%
Moderate	5%	1%	1%
Strong	1%	1%	1%
Kp Index Prediction
00-03UT	2.67	2.33	1.67
03-06UT	3.33	2.33	1.67
06-09UT	2.33	1.33	1.33
09-12UT	2.00	1.00	1.33
12-15UT	1.67	0.67	1.33
15-18UT	1.33	0.67	1.33
18-21UT	1.33	1.00	1.33
21-00UT	1.33	1.67	1.67
Solar Activity
Solar activity continued at moderate levels with additional M-class flares observed. The first was an M1.1/2n flare at 23/1607 UTC, produced by Region 3901 (S07W07, Cao/beta-gamma). The second event was an M1.1 flare that originated from just beyond the NE limb at 23/1810 UTC, along with a few C-class flares. No obvious CMEs were associated with either of these events. Shortly following the second M-flare, Region 3898 (S15W69, Cao/beta) produced a C5.4 flare at 23/1920 UTC. Coronal dimming was observed in SUVI 195 imagery that correlates to a CME first observed in LASCO C2 imagery at 23/1924 UTC. Limited imagery is available at this time, but a thorough analysis will be conducted as information becomes available to determine if there is an Earth-directed component. Region 3898 was also responsible for several other C-class flares as it made its way towards the west limb.
Solar Wind
Solar wind parameters reflected weak, negative polarity CH HSS influence. Solar wind speeds ranged +/- 25 km/s of 400 km/s. Total field was primarily 7-8 nT, and the Bz component underwent a handful of southward deflections, reaching a minimum of -8 nT. Phi was predominantly negative.
Energetic Particle
The greater than 2 MeV electron flux was at normal to moderate levels. The greater than 10 MeV proton flux returned to background levels.

Solar Monitor

Solar Wind

Tags