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Sky-Tonight.com / Solar System / Sun

Solar Spectrum: Rise, Set, and Space Weather

Sun Events Timetable

Sunset/Sunrise	20:32							06:00
Civil Twighlight		21:04					05:28
Nautical Twighlight			21:43			04:49
Astronomical Night				22:26	04:06

Elevation at transit	72°
Transit time	13:16
Distance to Earth	1.0162 AU (152,021,356 km)

Sun

Last update: Fri, 18 July 2025, 03:00

Current Sunspot and Flare Activity

The Sun currently displays 10 active sunspot regions visible from Earth, varying in size and magnetic complexity. This includes 2 newly detected sunspot regions (4148, 4146) in the past 24 hours.
The largest sunspot is AR 4136, classified as Dkc, covering 300 millionths of the solar hemisphere (MSH), and containing 10 individual spots.
No significant flares detected today. All data are current as of Fri, 18 July 2025 03:05, reflecting ongoing real-time monitoring of solar surface activity and flare emissions.

Recent Sunspots

4148

Sunspot Region

Spot count:

Area:

Coordinates:

S10W29

Class:

Magnetic Class:

AR 4148 is an -class sunspot group that emerged on 2025-07-17 02:37. It covers 30 millionths of the solar disk and contains 2 individual spots.

View detailed sunspot info

4146

Sunspot Region

Spot count:

Area:

Coordinates:

N19W58

Class:

Axx

Magnetic Class:

AR 4146 is an Axx-class sunspot group that emerged on 2025-07-16 13:36. It covers 10 millionths of the solar disk and contains 2 individual spots.

View detailed sunspot info

Explore detailed sunspot data, including all active regions, classifications, and flare history

Real-Time Solar Imaging

The data used in these images are provided by the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO). The SDO is a mission of NASA’s Living With a Star (LWS) Program, designed to understand the causes of solar variability and its impacts on Earth. The Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA) and Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager (HMI) instruments onboard SDO deliver high-resolution, real-time images of the sun in multiple wavelengths, which are essential for studying solar phenomena and predicting space weather. We gratefully acknowledge the efforts of the entire SDO team and NASA for making these invaluable data available to the public.

Magnetogram

HMI (Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager) magnetogram photos depict the sun's magnetic field strength and direction on its surface. These images, taken by the HMI instrument on the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) satellite, reveal the intricate magnetic structures, including sunspots and active regions.

Intensitygram

HMI intensitygram photos display the sun's surface in visible light, highlighting features such as sunspots, granulation, and solar faculae. These images, captured by the HMI instrument aboard the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO), provide a detailed view of the sun's photosphere, allowing for the observation of sunspot development and movement.

Solar Magnetism: Coronal Loop Dynamics

These photos capture the sun in the 171 angstrom wavelength, highlighting the solar corona and upper transition region. These images, taken by the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA) on the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO), reveal the structure of the sun's outer atmosphere and trace the magnetic field lines extending into space. The 171 Å wavelength is particularly effective at showing the million-degree plasma loops that emerge from the sun's surface.

Active Regions, Flares, and Coronal Holes

AIA 193 Å photos capture the sun in the 193 angstrom wavelength, focusing on both the hot corona and the cooler material of solar flares and coronal mass ejections (CMEs). These images reveal the sun's outer atmosphere and coronal holes, which are regions where the solar wind escapes into space. The 193 Å wavelength is particularly useful for observing the high-temperature plasma that forms in the corona, typically around 1.25 million Kelvin, and during solar flares, it can reach up to 20 million Kelvin.

Solar Passage Through Day

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Current Sun position

Time	03:31
Latitude	39.0469
Longitude	-77.4903
Sun elevation	-22°
Sun Azimuth	-34°

Yearly Sunlight Dynamics

Sun Properties

Date	Fri, 18 July 2025
Twiglight begin	21:43
Twiglight end	04:49
Astrosession duration	7h 6m
Elevation at transit	72°
Transit time	13:16
Distance to Earth	1.0162 AU (152,021,356 km)
Equatorial coordinates at midnight	RA: 07h 51m 44s", Dec: 20° 57' 28s
Constellation	Gemini