Sun Images for Past 72 Hours
Images copyrighted by the SDO/NASA and Helioviewer project
📋 Propagation Summary: HF propagation is generally favorable today, with stable solar and geomagnetic conditions supporting reliable operation on most bands. The solar flux is moderate at 130, and the K-index is very low, indicating quiet geomagnetic activity—great news for HF operators. Expect good performance on 20m, 17m, and 15m throughout the day and evening, while higher bands (12m, 10m) may be more variable, especially at night. Lower bands (80m, 40m) will perform best after sunset. Take advantage of the calm space weather and plan for extended DX opportunities, especially during grayline periods.
💡 Operator Tips:
- Use 20m, 17m, and 15m for reliable daytime and evening DX; these bands are currently the most stable.
- 80m and 40m will open up nicely after dark—ideal for regional and intercontinental contacts.
- For 12m and 10m, try midday and early afternoon for the best chance at openings; monitor for short-lived sporadic-E.
- Modes like FT8, CW, and SSB will all perform well, but digital modes may help on marginal bands.
- With low geomagnetic activity, try long-path and polar routes for rare DX.
- Check for grayline propagation at sunrise and sunset for enhanced paths, especially on 40m and 20m.
⏰ Best Operating Times
| Band | Best Times (UTC) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 80m | 20:00–08:00 | Best after sunset, strong night paths |
| 40m | 19:00–09:00 | Good night, fair daytime |
| 20m | 08:00–22:00 | Good all day, solid evening |
| 17m | 09:00–20:00 | Good daytime, fades after sunset |
| 15m | 10:00–19:00 | Good daytime, check for DX peaks |
| 12m | 11:00–17:00 | Fair midday, weak at night |
| 10m | 12:00–16:00 | Fair midday, mostly closed at night |
🌍 DX Opportunities
- Grayline DX: Enhanced propagation on 40m and 20m during local sunrise and sunset—target east-west paths.
- Daytime DX: 17m and 15m are open for intercontinental contacts, especially toward equatorial and southern latitudes.
- 10m/12m: Watch for short, sporadic-E openings around local noon; possible brief DX to South America and Africa.
- Low Bands: 80m and 40m favor long-haul DX after dark, especially with low K-index.
- Special Events: No major solar storms or aurora—expect stable conditions for contests and DXpeditions.
📻 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 | 🟠 Fair | 🔴 Poor |
| 10m | 🟠 Fair | 🟠 Fair | 🟠 Fair | 🔴 Poor |
Analysis:
The 20m, 17m, and 15m bands are the most reliable for both local and DX contacts throughout the day and evening, thanks to moderate solar flux and quiet geomagnetic conditions. 80m and 40m are best at night and during the evening, with fair but usable conditions in the morning and daytime. 12m and 10m are marginal—try midday for any openings, but expect poor performance at night. No bands are completely closed, so keep an ear out for brief surprises, especially during grayline.
📊 Current Solar Activity
Solar Activity Metrics
K-index
Solar Flux (10.7cm)
Sunspot Number
- K-index: 1 (very low, geomagnetic field is quiet—excellent for HF)
- Solar Flux: 128–131 (moderate, supports good MUF for 20–15m)
- Sunspot Number: 71–85 (moderate, enough for regular F-layer propagation)
- Space Weather: No major flares, storms, or warnings—stable, predictable HF conditions.
📈 Geomagnetic Conditions
- Recent K-index trend: Steady at 0–1 over the past 24 hours—indicates very quiet geomagnetic field.
- Impact: Low K-index means minimal absorption and excellent polar/auroral path reliability. No disturbances expected.
🌟 Space Weather Details
Space Weather Dashboard
X-ray Activity
Solar Wind Speed
Aurora Activity
- X-ray Activity: C1.0—minor solar flare activity, no HF blackouts expected.
- Solar Wind Speed: 417 km/s—moderate, not enough to disturb geomagnetic field.
- Electron Flux: 2680—elevated but not extreme; minor impact on polar paths possible, but unlikely to cause issues.
- Proton Flux: 11—quiet, no radiation storm risk.
- Aurora: 1—very low, VHF/UHF auroral propagation not expected.
- Helium Line: 115.9—stable, indicating no rapid changes in solar activity.
📡 Propagation Timeline & Technical Details
Propagation Quality Timeline (24 Hours)
- Historical Solar Trends: Solar flux and sunspot numbers have declined slightly since late 2025, but remain in the moderate range. This supports reliable F-layer propagation on 20–15m, with occasional higher band openings.
- Recent Months: Solar flux peaked at 160 in December, now stabilizing around 130. Sunspot numbers have dropped from 125 to 85, but are still sufficient for good HF propagation.
Solar Activity Trends (6 Months)
🔮 3-Day Forecast
3-Day K-index Forecast
- Propagation Outlook: Expect continued quiet geomagnetic conditions and moderate solar activity for the next 3 days. No major solar storms or geomagnetic disturbances are forecast.
- Best Bands: 20m, 17m, and 15m will remain the most reliable for DX and general operation.
- Challenging Bands: 12m and 10m may see brief midday openings, but will be mostly poor at night.
- Operator Advice: Plan for extended DX sessions, especially during grayline. Watch for any sudden solar changes, but overall, stable and favorable conditions are expected for all HF operators.