Sun Images for Past 72 Hours
Images copyrighted by the SDO/NASA and Helioviewer project
📋 Propagation Summary: HF propagation is looking promising today thanks to a high solar flux of 187 and a moderate sunspot count of 112. Expect good conditions on the higher bands (20m–10m) during daylight hours, with some evening and nighttime openings possible on 20m and 17m. The K-index is stable at 3, indicating only minor geomagnetic disturbances, so most HF paths should be open, especially for DX. Lower bands (80m/40m) are less favorable during the day but may improve after sunset. Take advantage of the enhanced upper band conditions while they last!
💡 Operator Tips:
- Focus on 20m, 17m, 15m, and 12m for daytime DX and reliable contacts.
- 10m may open for short to medium skip, especially during local midday.
- Use digital modes (FT8, FT4, RTTY) for weak signal work and to maximize DX on marginal bands.
- For contesting or DX, target grayline periods (sunrise/sunset) on 20m and 17m for long-haul paths.
- Keep an eye on real-time K-index updates; if it rises, expect possible shortwave fadeouts or auroral effects, especially at higher latitudes.
⏰ Best Operating Times
| Band | Best Times (UTC) |
|---|---|
| 80m | 22:00–06:00 (night) |
| 40m | 20:00–08:00 (evening/night) |
| 20m | 08:00–22:00 (day/evening) |
| 17m | 10:00–20:00 (day) |
| 15m | 10:00–18:00 (day) |
| 12m | 12:00–18:00 (midday/afternoon) |
| 10m | 14:00–18:00 (afternoon) |
🌍 DX Opportunities
- Grayline openings on 20m and 17m will be strong—watch for long-path DX at sunrise and sunset.
- 10m and 12m may support sporadic-E and F2-layer propagation, especially for north-south paths.
- 15m and 17m are excellent for intercontinental DX during daylight.
- Aurora level is low (2), so VHF auroral propagation is unlikely, but keep an ear out for rare openings if the K-index spikes.
- Watch for Pacific and Asian DX in the early morning, and Europe/Africa in the late afternoon/evening.
📻 Band-by-Band Analysis
| Band | Morning | Day | Evening | Night |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 80m | 🔴 Poor | 🔴 Poor | 🟠 Fair | 🟠 Fair |
| 40m | 🔴 Poor | 🔴 Poor | 🟠 Fair | 🟠 Fair |
| 20m | 🟡 Good | 🟡 Good | 🟡 Good | 🟡 Good |
| 17m | 🟡 Good | 🟡 Good | 🟡 Good | 🟡 Good |
| 15m | 🟡 Good | 🟡 Good | 🟡 Good | 🟡 Good |
| 12m | 🟡 Good | 🟡 Good | 🟡 Good | 🔴 Poor |
| 10m | 🟡 Good | 🟡 Good | 🟡 Good | 🔴 Poor |
The best bands today are 20m, 17m, and 15m, offering consistent good propagation from morning through evening. 12m and 10m are also good during the day but tend to close at night. 80m and 40m are poor during daylight but improve to fair after sunset, making them suitable for local and regional contacts at night.
📊 Current Solar Activity
Solar Activity Metrics
K-index
Solar Flux (10.7cm)
Sunspot Number
- K-index: 3 – Minor geomagnetic activity; most HF bands remain stable, but higher latitudes may see slight disturbances.
- Solar Flux: 187 – Very strong solar radio energy; supports robust F-layer propagation, especially on 10m–20m.
- Sunspot Number: 112 – Healthy sunspot count, indicating active solar regions and enhanced HF propagation potential.
📈 Geomagnetic Conditions
- The K-index has remained steady around 3 over the past 24 hours, showing stable geomagnetic conditions.
- No significant geomagnetic storms have been observed recently, so propagation is generally reliable.
- If the K-index rises above 4, expect possible shortwave fadeouts or auroral effects, especially on polar and trans-auroral paths.
🌟 Space Weather Details
Space Weather Dashboard
X-ray Activity
Solar Wind Speed
Aurora Activity
- X-ray Activity: C7.7 – This is a moderate solar flare level. While not strong enough for major blackouts, brief HF absorption (especially on sunlit paths) is possible.
- Solar Wind: 540.1 km/s – Elevated but not extreme; may contribute to minor geomagnetic variability, but not enough to disrupt most HF paths.
- Particle Environment: Electron flux: 4650, Proton flux: 23700 – Slightly elevated, but not at levels that typically cause major propagation issues.
- Aurora Activity: Level 2 – Low; auroral propagation on VHF/UHF is unlikely today.
- Helium Line: 127.7 – Indicates moderate solar activity; no major trend shifts expected in the short term.
📡 Propagation Timeline & Technical Details
Propagation Quality Timeline (24 Hours)
Recent months show a rebound in solar flux and sunspot numbers after a dip in early spring. The current high solar flux (187) is well above the recent average, supporting strong upper HF band openings. Sunspot numbers have recovered from a low in April, indicating a return to more favorable propagation.
Solar Activity Trends (6 Months)
🔮 3-Day Forecast
3-Day K-index Forecast
- Solar activity is expected to remain elevated, keeping 20m–10m bands open during the day.
- K-index is forecast to stay below 4, so no major geomagnetic storms are anticipated.
- Best bands: 20m, 17m, 15m for DX; 10m and 12m for daytime short/medium skip.
- Worst bands: 80m and 40m during daylight; use these at night for local/regional QSOs.
- No alerts or warnings at this time—enjoy the good conditions and work some DX!