Two Non-Earthbound CMEs May Impact Mars and Several Spacecraft

Two CMEs (Coronal Mass Ejections) occurred in the early hours of November 8, 2012 (UT), the later one a more significant, O-type CME. The 2 CMEs are denoted with red arrows in this snapshot from the NASA Space Weather Research Center (SWRC) CME propagation computer model.

Computer Model for the Propagation of the 2 CMEs

The first C-type CME was detected by SOHO LASCO C2, SOHO LASCO C3, STEREO-A COR2 and STEREO-B COR2. This CME is associated with the M1.7 class solar flare that peaked at 02:23 UT from an east limb active region just rotating onto the solar disk. This event was first detected at 02:38 UT with a plane-of-the-sky speed of ~710 km/s.

The first of the 2 CMEs seen by the SOHO LASCO C2 instrument.

The second O-type CME was detected by STEREO-A COR2 and STEREO-B COR2. This CME is related to the SEP event at STEREO-A. This event was first detected at 11:09 UT with a plane-of-the-sky speed of ~1285 km/s.

The second of the 2 CMEs seen by the STEREO A Cor2 instrument.

The video below shows an animation of the NASA SWRC computer model of the CME’s propagation through the solar system.

From the model it is estimated that the CMEs may impact STEREO-A, STEREO-B, Mars, Spitzer and Messenger. Simulations of the CMEs indicate that the leading edges of respective CMEs will reach: Messenger at 2012-11-09 02:25 UT, Stereo A at 2012-11-10T 10:34 UT, Stereo B at 2012-11-11 11:50 UT, Spitzer at 2012-11-10  21:59 UT, and Mars at 2012-11-12T16:14 UT (plus minus 7 hours).