Sun Images for Past 72 Hours
Images copyrighted by the SDO/NASA and Helioviewer project
📋 Propagation Summary: HF propagation today is shaped by moderate solar activity and very quiet geomagnetic conditions. The solar flux is currently at 97, with a sunspot number of 11, both on the lower side compared to recent months. This means lower bands (80m–20m) will offer the most reliable contacts, especially at night and during twilight. Higher bands (15m–10m) are generally poor and likely closed for most operators, with limited daytime openings possible only for local or short-range contacts. For best results, focus on 40m and 20m during the day and 80m/40m at night, and watch for brief grayline DX opportunities.
💡 Operator Tips
- Prioritize lower bands: Use 80m and 40m for local and regional QSOs, especially after sunset.
- 20m is your DX workhorse: Expect good conditions on 20m most of the day and evening for both domestic and international contacts.
- Digital modes shine: Try FT8, PSK31, or CW on higher bands (15m–10m) if you want to catch rare openings.
- Verticals and dipoles: Simple antennas will perform well on 40m and 20m; consider using resonant antennas for best efficiency.
- Monitor grayline: Short windows around sunrise and sunset may yield surprise DX, especially on 40m and 20m.
- Low noise advantage: Quiet geomagnetic conditions mean less noise—take advantage for weak-signal work!
⏰ Best Operating Times
| Band | Best Times (UTC) |
|---|---|
| 80m | 20:00–08:00 (night, early AM) |
| 40m | 18:00–10:00 (evening, night) |
| 20m | 10:00–22:00 (day, early evening) |
| 17m | 12:00–18:00 (midday, afternoon) |
| 15m | 14:00–18:00 (midday, brief) |
| 12m | 15:00–17:00 (rare, short) |
| 10m | 16:00–18:00 (rare, short) |
🌍 DX Opportunities
- Grayline paths: Watch 40m and 20m at local sunrise/sunset for enhanced long-path DX, especially toward east-west directions.
- 20m daytime DX: Good for transcontinental and intercontinental contacts, especially mid-morning to late afternoon.
- Low bands at night: 80m and 40m open up for longer-haul contacts after dark, with low geomagnetic noise.
- High bands (15m–10m): Mostly poor, but check for sporadic-E or short-lived F-layer openings, especially during solar disturbances or contest weekends.
- No aurora: Aurora activity is minimal, so no enhanced VHF/UHF propagation expected for northern operators.
📻 Band-by-Band Analysis
| Band | Morning | Day | Evening | Night |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 80m | 🟡 Good | 🟠 Fair | 🟡 Good | 🟢 Excellent |
| 40m | 🟡 Good | 🟠 Fair | 🟡 Good | 🟢 Excellent |
| 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 |
The best bands right now are 80m and 40m at night (🟢 Excellent), and 20m during the day and evening (🟡 Good). 17m and 15m may support some regional or short-haul contacts but are generally only 🟠 Fair. 12m and 10m are mostly 🔴 Poor and likely closed except for very brief, local, or sporadic-E openings.
📊 Current Solar Activity
Solar Activity Metrics
K-index
Solar Flux (10.7cm)
Sunspot Number
- K-index: 1 (very quiet) – Geomagnetic field is calm, low noise, excellent for weak-signal HF work.
- Solar Flux: 97 – Lower than recent months, indicating reduced ionization and weaker high-band propagation.
- Sunspot Number: 11 – Very low, which correlates with poor conditions on 15m and above.
- Space Weather: No major flares or disturbances. X-ray flux at B2.3 (quiet).
📈 Geomagnetic Conditions
- Recent K-index trend: Stable and low over the past 24 hours, with no significant geomagnetic storms.
- Impact: Propagation is stable, with minimal absorption or auroral effects. Expect low noise, especially on the low bands.
🌟 Space Weather Details
Space Weather Dashboard
X-ray Activity
Solar Wind Speed
Aurora Activity
- X-ray Activity: B2.3 level – Very quiet, so no HF blackouts or sudden ionospheric disturbances expected.
- Solar Wind: 495 km/s – Slightly elevated but not enough to cause geomagnetic unrest.
- Particle Environment: Electron flux at 1880, proton flux at 15 – Both are low; no significant impact on HF propagation.
- Aurora Activity: Index at 1 – Very low, so no auroral propagation for VHF/UHF.
- Helium Line: 108.4 – Indicates stable solar conditions, no major upswings or flares.
📡 Propagation Timeline & Technical Details
Propagation Quality Timeline (24 Hours)
- Solar flux and sunspot trends: Over the past 6 months, both have declined moderately (solar flux from ~138 to 116, sunspots from ~101 to 76), explaining the current weaker high-band conditions.
- Recent months: The drop in solar activity means fewer openings on 15m–10m, but more stable conditions on 80m–20m.
Solar Activity Trends (6 Months)
🔮 3-Day Forecast
3-Day K-index Forecast
- Expect similar conditions: Solar activity is stable with no major flares forecasted.
- K-index: Likely to remain low, so low-band noise will stay minimal.
- Best bands: 80m, 40m, and 20m will continue to be the most reliable for both local and DX work.
- High bands: 15m–10m will remain challenging; check for brief openings, especially during local midday.
- No alerts or warnings: No significant space weather events expected—enjoy the quiet bands!