Sun Images for Past 72 Hours
Images copyrighted by the SDO/NASA and Helioviewer project
📋 Propagation Summary
Today’s HF propagation is shaped by moderate solar activity and a quiet geomagnetic field. The solar flux is at 128, with sunspot numbers at 72, indicating decent but not peak ionospheric support. The K-index is low at 2, so geomagnetic disturbances are minimal, supporting stable conditions, especially on the lower and mid bands. Expect good performance on 20m, 17m, and 15m throughout the day and evening, while 12m and 10m will be more variable, especially at night. For best results, focus on the mid bands for DX, and use lower bands (80m/40m) at night for regional and some long-haul contacts.
💡 Operator Tips
- Daytime: Prioritize 20m, 17m, and 15m for reliable DX and intercontinental contacts.
- Evening/Night: Switch to 40m and 80m for strong regional and some DX openings.
- Modes: Use FT8, CW, or digital modes on higher bands (12m/10m) to maximize weak signal work.
- Antennas: Multi-band verticals or dipoles will be effective; consider directional antennas for DX on 15m/17m.
- Contesting/DX: Focus on grayline periods for enhanced propagation, especially on 20m and 40m.
- VHF/UHF: No significant auroral or E-skip events expected; standard tropo only.
⏰ Best Operating Times
| Band | Best Times (UTC) |
|---|---|
| 80m | 20:00–08:00 (night) |
| 40m | 18:00–09:00 (evening/night) |
| 20m | 10:00–22:00 (day/evening) |
| 17m | 11:00–20:00 (day) |
| 15m | 12:00–19:00 (day) |
| 12m | 14:00–18:00 (early afternoon) |
| 10m | 15:00–17:00 (brief openings) |
🌍 DX Opportunities
- Grayline: Enhanced long-path openings on 40m and 20m around local sunrise/sunset.
- 20m/17m: Good DX paths to Europe, Africa, and South America during daylight.
- 15m: Occasional openings to Asia and Oceania, especially mid-day.
- 10m/12m: Sporadic short-path DX possible during peak solar hours; check for fleeting openings.
- No major auroral or polar path events expected; focus on equatorial and mid-latitude routes.
📻 Band-by-Band Analysis
| Band | Morning | Day | Evening | Night |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 80m | 🟠 Fair | 🟠 Fair | 🟡 Good | 🟡 Good |
| 40m | 🟠 Fair | 🟠 Fair | 🟡 Good | 🟡 Good |
| 20m | 🟡 Good | 🟡 Good | 🟡 Good | 🟡 Good |
| 17m | 🟡 Good | 🟡 Good | 🟡 Good | 🟡 Good |
| 15m | 🟡 Good | 🟡 Good | 🟡 Good | 🟡 Good |
| 12m | 🟠 Fair | 🟠 Fair | 🔴 Poor | 🔴 Poor |
| 10m | 🟠 Fair | 🟠 Fair | 🔴 Poor | 🔴 Poor |
The 20m, 17m, and 15m bands are performing best throughout the day and into the evening, offering reliable DX and regional contacts. 40m and 80m are good at night and during the evening for local and some long-haul communication. 12m and 10m are fair during the day but poor or closed at night, so check for brief daytime openings, especially if you’re chasing rare DX.
📊 Current Solar Activity
Solar Activity Metrics
K-index
Solar Flux (10.7cm)
Sunspot Number
- K-index: 2 (quiet geomagnetic field) – minimal disruptions, stable HF propagation.
- Solar Flux (10.7cm): 128 (moderate) – supports good MUF for 20m–15m, less so for 10m/12m.
- Sunspot Number: 72 – moderate, consistent with decent but not peak band openings.
- Space Weather: No major flares or proton events; X-ray flux at B8.3 (quiet), so no HF blackouts expected.
📈 Geomagnetic Conditions
- The K-index has trended downward over the past 24 hours, from values as high as 4.67 to a stable 2 now.
- This indicates improving geomagnetic stability, with no current geomagnetic storms.
- Expect quiet conditions to persist, favoring stable HF propagation, especially on the higher bands.
🌟 Space Weather Details
Space Weather Dashboard
X-ray Activity
Solar Wind Speed
Aurora Activity
- X-ray Activity: B8.3 (very low) – no risk of HF blackouts; stable D-layer absorption.
- Solar Wind: 457.9 km/s – moderate speed; not enough to trigger geomagnetic storms, but keep an eye on sudden increases.
- Particle Environment: Electron and proton flux not elevated – no enhanced absorption or polar cap absorption events.
- Aurora Activity: 4 (low) – no auroral propagation expected; VHF/UHF bands remain normal.
- Helium Line: 122.4 – stable, indicating no significant solar flare or CME activity.
📡 Propagation Timeline & Technical Details
Propagation Quality Timeline (24 Hours)
- Recent months show a decline in solar flux and sunspot numbers from late 2025 highs, but values remain moderate and supportive of good HF propagation.
- The current solar flux (128) and sunspot number (72) are down from peak, but still provide decent MUF for 20m–15m.
- Expect continued moderate conditions unless a new solar event occurs.
Solar Activity Trends (6 Months)
🔮 3-Day Forecast
3-Day K-index Forecast
- Propagation will remain stable with low geomagnetic activity and moderate solar flux.
- 20m, 17m, and 15m will continue to be the most reliable bands for DX and general operation.
- 10m and 12m may open briefly during peak solar hours, but expect limited opportunities.
- No alerts or warnings for HF or VHF operators at this time.
- Monitor for sudden solar events, but no major disturbances are forecast. Continue to check real-time updates for any rapid changes.