Sun Images for Past 72 Hours
Images copyrighted by the SDO/NASA and Helioviewer project
📋 Propagation Summary: HF propagation is currently moderate with some variability across the bands. The solar flux is at 112 (recently trending higher, but a bit lower than last month), and the sunspot number is at 82, supporting decent daytime propagation on the mid-bands. Geomagnetic conditions are quiet with a K-index of 2, which means minimal disturbance and generally stable HF conditions. Expect good performance on 20m and 30m, with lower bands (80m/40m) improving at night. High bands (12m/10m) are mostly closed for DX, but local contacts may still be possible. Plan your DX and contesting for the most productive bands and times!
💡 Operator Tips
- Focus on 20m and 30m for reliable daytime and evening contacts, especially for DX.
- 80m and 40m will be your best bet after sunset for regional and some longer-haul contacts.
- 15m and 17m may open for short periods, particularly around local noon—check often for brief DX windows.
- 10m and 12m are mostly poor; try FT8 or other weak-signal modes if you want to experiment.
- Use digital modes (FT8, PSK31) to maximize your chances on marginal bands.
- Low noise antennas and good grounding will help on 80m/40m, especially at night.
- For VHF/UHF, no significant aurora or E-skip is expected today.
⏰ Best Operating Times
| Band | Best Times (UTC/local) |
|---|---|
| 80m | Night, pre-dawn |
| 40m | Night, early morning, sunset |
| 30m | All day, especially evening |
| 20m | Late morning to sunset |
| 17m | Midday, early afternoon |
| 15m | Midday, early afternoon |
| 12m | Brief midday windows possible |
| 10m | Brief midday windows possible |
🌍 DX Opportunities
- Grayline paths on 40m and 30m are favorable for long-haul DX at sunrise and sunset.
- 20m offers the best shot at intercontinental DX during daylight hours.
- 15m/17m may surprise with short-lived DX openings, especially toward equatorial regions.
- No major aurora or special propagation events expected; VHF/UHF will be standard.
- Watch for sporadic-E on 10m/6m around local noon, though conditions are not prime.
📻 Band-by-Band Analysis
| Band | Morning | Day | Evening | Night |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 80m | 🟠 Fair | 🟠 Fair | 🟡 Good | 🟡 Good |
| 40m | 🟠 Fair | 🟠 Fair | 🟡 Good | 🟡 Good |
| 30m | 🟡 Good | 🟡 Good | 🟡 Good | 🟡 Good |
| 20m | 🟡 Good | 🟡 Good | 🟡 Good | 🟡 Good |
| 17m | 🟠 Fair | 🟠 Fair | 🟠 Fair | 🟠 Fair |
| 15m | 🟠 Fair | 🟠 Fair | 🟠 Fair | 🟠 Fair |
| 12m | 🔴 Poor | 🔴 Poor | 🔴 Poor | 🔴 Poor |
| 10m | 🔴 Poor | 🔴 Poor | 🔴 Poor | 🔴 Poor |
Analysis:
20m and 30m are the most reliable bands for both local and DX contacts throughout the day and evening. 80m and 40m improve significantly after sunset, making them ideal for night-time operation. 15m and 17m are marginal—check for short openings, especially midday. 10m and 12m remain mostly closed for DX, but local QSOs may be possible with digital modes or during brief E-skip events.
📊 Current Solar Activity
Solar Activity Metrics
K-index
Solar Flux (10.7cm)
Sunspot Number
- K-index: 2 (quiet geomagnetic field, low disturbance, supports stable HF propagation)
- Solar Flux: 112 (moderate, down from last month’s peak, supports 20m/30m but limits high-band openings)
- Sunspot Number: 82 (moderate, enough for decent mid-band propagation)
- Space Weather Overview: No major flares or storms; X-ray flux at B5.2 (quiet), solar wind elevated but not extreme.
📈 Geomagnetic Conditions
- Recent K-index trend: Stable and low over the past 24 hours, indicating quiet geomagnetic conditions.
- Impact: No significant geomagnetic storms or disturbances; expect minimal absorption and good band stability.
- Aurora activity: Low (index 2), so no auroral propagation expected.
🌟 Space Weather Details
Space Weather Dashboard
X-ray Activity
Solar Wind Speed
Aurora Activity
- X-ray Activity: B5.2 (quiet) — no risk of HF blackouts or sudden absorption events.
- Solar Wind: 557.8 km/s — slightly elevated, but not enough to trigger geomagnetic storms.
- Particle Environment: Electron flux at 1510 and proton flux at 1160 — normal to slightly elevated, minimal impact on everyday HF operation.
- Aurora Activity: 2 — very low, so VHF/UHF auroral propagation is not expected.
- Helium Line: 109.8 — stable, indicating no major solar trend changes.
📡 Propagation Timeline & Technical Details
Propagation Quality Timeline (24 Hours)
- Historical solar flux has shown a slight decrease from the January peak (151) down to current values (112–138), with sunspot numbers following a similar trend.
- Sunspot numbers have fluctuated but remain in the moderate range, supporting fair to good HF propagation.
- Summary: We are in a moderate solar activity phase—not at solar maximum, but still good enough for regular DX on 20m/30m and occasional high-band surprises.
Solar Activity Trends (6 Months)
🔮 3-Day Forecast
3-Day K-index Forecast
- Propagation is expected to remain stable with quiet geomagnetic conditions and moderate solar activity.
- 20m and 30m will continue to be the best bands for DX and general operation.
- 80m/40m will be strong at night; check for enhanced conditions during local sunrise/sunset.
- High bands (15m/12m/10m) will remain challenging—watch for brief openings, especially if solar flux ticks upward.
- No alerts or warnings for major solar storms or geomagnetic activity at this time. Continue to monitor for updates, especially if you plan VHF/UHF or contest operations.