M1 flare triggers EVE Flare Watch

An onboard EVE flare campaign was triggered on April 2 by an M-class flare. That flare remains the highest soft X-ray activity observed by EVE since Artemis II launched on April 1. After the flare campaign completed, multiple C-class and 2 smaller M-class flares also occurred. These smaller flares were not large enough to trigger the autonomous flare campaign.

Source:  EVE Flare Watch Website 

The EUV irradiance increased around the time of the X-ray flare and quickly returned to expected levels.  The baseline (non-flaring) EUV irradiance will likely decrease as the Artemis II mission continues. The sun is showing relatively large 27-day solar rotational variation in the EUV irradiance consistent with high activity. The previous solar rotation minimum occurred about 2 weeks prior to the April 2 flare, so the daily average irradiances should begin decreasing soon.  However, there remains continued potential for flare-related increases.  The NASA M2M forecasting team will be watching to ensure the safety of the Artemis mission.  

Comet C/2026 A1 (MAPS) to reach SDO Field of View on April 4

Comet C/2026 A1 (MAPS) is heading for the Sun. The estimated trajectory in the SDO AIA field of view is shown in the figure provided by Dean Pesnell. 

The team is eagerly anticipating the comet's arrival, and we hope to see it in SDO EUV images.  

Major Flare and CME on March 30, 2026

As NASA prepares for the Artemis II launch, the NASA Moon2Mars Space Weather Analysis Office is monitoring space weather activity to ensure a safe flight for the astronauts.  

To celebrate the upcoming Artemis flight, the Sun unleashed an X1.5 flare at at 02:47UT on March 30, 2026, and there was a beautiful eruption of a coronal mass ejection (CME). Flares and coronal mass ejections are not uncommon, but they can cause some space weather effects, which is why the M2M office monitors activity. The SDO team is closely watching the data products to be sure that the forecasters have what they need.

Go Artemis!