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In the early 1990s, it was found that the strongest disturbances of the space-weather were associated with huge ejections of plasma from the solar corona, which took the form of magnetic clouds when moved from the Sun. It is the collisions of the magnetic clouds with the Earth's magnetosphere that lead to strong, sometimes catastrophic changes in space-weather. The onset of a coronal mass ejection (CME) is sudden and no reliable forerunners of CMEs have been found till date. The CME prediction methodologies are less developed compared to the methods developed for the prediction of solar flares. The most probable initial magnetic configuration of a CME is a flux rope consisting of twisted field lines which fill the whole volume of a dark coronal cavity. The flux ropes can be in stable equilibrium in the coronal magnetic field for weeks and even months, but suddenly they lose their stability and erupt with high speed. Their transition to the unstable phase depends on the parameters of the flux rope (i.e., total electric current, twist, mass loading, etc.), as well as on the properties of the ambient coronal magnetic field. One of the major governing factors is the vertical gradient of the coronal magnetic field, which is estimated as decay index ( n). Cold dense prominence material can be collected in the lower parts of the helical flux tubes. Filaments are, therefore, good tracers of the flux ropes in the corona, which become visible long before the beginning of the eruption. The perspectives of the filament eruptions and following CMEs can be estimated by a comparison of observed filament heights with calculated decay index distributions. The present paper reviews the formation of magnetic flux ropes, their stable and unstable phases, eruption conditions, and also discusses their physical implications in the solar corona. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present the multiwavelength observations of a flux rope that was trying to erupt from NOAA AR 11045 and the associated M-class solar flare on 12 February 2010 using space-based and ground-based observations from TRACE, STEREO, SOHO/MDI, Hinode/XRT, and BBSO. While the flux rope was rising from the active region, an M1.1/2F class flare was triggered near one of its footpoints. We suggest that the flare triggering was due to the reconnection of a rising flux rope with the surrounding low-lying magnetic loops. The flux rope reached a projected height of ≈0.15 R with a speed of ≈90 km s while the soft X-ray flux enhanced gradually during its rise. The flux rope was suppressed by an overlying field, and the filled plasma moved towards the negative polarity field to the west of its activation site. We found the first observational evidence of the initial suppression of a flux rope due to a remnant filament visible both at chromospheric and coronal temperatures that evolved a couple of days earlier at the same location in the active region. SOHO/MDI magnetograms show the emergence of a bipole ≈12 h prior to the flare initiation. The emerged negative polarity moved towards the flux rope activation site, and flare triggering near the photospheric polarity inversion line (PIL) took place. The motion of the negative polarity region towards the PIL helped in the build-up of magnetic energy at the flare and flux rope activation site. This study provides unique observational evidence of a rising flux rope that failed to erupt due to a remnant filament and overlying magnetic field, as well as associated triggering of an M-class flare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study the solar sources of an intense geomagnetic storm of solar cycle 23 that occurred on 20 November 2003, based on ground- and space-based multiwavelength observations. The coronal mass ejections (CMEs) responsible for the above geomagnetic storm originated from the super-active region NOAA 10501. We investigate the Hα observations of the flare events made with a 15 cm solar tower telescope at ARIES, Nainital, India. The propagation characteristics of the CMEs have been derived from the three-dimensional images of the solar wind ( i.e., density and speed) obtained from the interplanetary scintillation data, supplemented with other ground- and space-based measurements. The TRACE, SXI and Hα observations revealed two successive ejections (of speeds ≈ 350 and ≈ 100 km s), originating from the same filament channel, which were associated with two high speed CMEs (≈ 1223 and ≈ 1660 km s, respectively). These two ejections generated propagating fast shock waves ( i.e., fast-drifting type II radio bursts) in the corona. The interaction of these CMEs along the Sun-Earth line has led to the severity of the storm. According to our investigation, the interplanetary medium consisted of two merging magnetic clouds (MCs) that preserved their identity during their propagation. These magnetic clouds made the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) southward for a long time, which reconnected with the geomagnetic field, resulting the super-storm ( Dst=−472 nT) on the Earth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a multiwavelength analysis of a long-duration, white-light solar flare (M8.9/3B) event that occurred on 04 June 2007 from AR NOAA 10960. The flare was observed by several spaceborne instruments, namely SOHO/MDI, Hinode/SOT, TRACE, and STEREO/SECCHI. The flare was initiated near a small, positive-polarity, satellite sunspot at the center of the active region, surrounded by opposite-polarity field regions. MDI images of the active region show a considerable amount of changes in the small positive-polarity sunspot of δ configuration during the flare event. SOT/G-band (4305 Å) images of the sunspot also suggest the rapid evolution of this positive-polarity sunspot with highly twisted penumbral filaments before the flare event, which were oriented in a counterclockwise direction. It shows the change in orientation, and also the remarkable disappearance of twisted penumbral filaments (≈35 – 40%) and enhancement in umbral area (≈45 – 50%) during the decay phase of the flare. TRACE and SECCHI observations reveal the successive activation of two helically-twisted structures associated with this sunspot, and the corresponding brightening in the chromosphere as observed by the time-sequence of SOT/Ca ii H line (3968 Å) images. The secondary, helically-twisted structure is found to be associated with the M8.9 flare event. The brightening starts six – seven minutes prior to the flare maximum with the appearance of a secondary, helically-twisted structure. The flare intensity maximizes as the secondary, helically-twisted structure moves away from the active region. This twisted flux tube, associated with the flare triggering, did not launch a CME. The location of the flare activity is found to coincide with the activation site of the helically-twisted structures. We conclude that the activation of successive helical twists (especially the second one) in the magnetic-flux tubes/ropes plays a crucial role in the energy build-up process and the triggering of the M-class solar flare without a coronal mass ejection (CME). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The eruption of limb prominence on 21 April 2001 associated with two coronal mass ejections (CMEs) is investigated. H α images reveal two large-scale eruptions (a prominence body and a southern foot-point arch), both showing helical internal structure. These two eruptions are found to be spatially and temporally associated with the corresponding CMEs. The kinematics and the study of geometrical parameters of the prominence show that the eruption was quite impulsive (with peak acceleration ≈470 m s−2) and has taken place for relatively low pitch angle of helical threads, not exceeding tan θ≈1.2. The stability criteria of the prominence are revisited in the light of the model of Vršnak (1990, Solar Phys. 129, 295) and the analysis shows that the eruption violates the instability criteria of that model. Finally, the energy stored in the prominence circuit and the energies (kinetic, potential, and magnetic) of the associated CMEs are estimated and it is found that there was enough energy stored in the prominence to drive the two CMEs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present Hα observations from ARIES (Nainital) of a compact and impulsive solar flare that occurred on March 10, 2001 and which was associated with a CME. We have also analyzed HXT, SXT/ Yohkoh observations as well as radio observations from the Nobeyama Radio Observatory to derive the energetics and dynamics of this impulsive flare. We coalign the Hα, SXR, HXR, MW, and magnetogram images within the instrumental spatial-resolution limit. We detect a single HXR source in this flare, which is found spatially associated with one of the Hα bright kernels. The unusual feature of HXR and Hα sources, observed for the first time, is the rotation during the impulsive phase in a clockwise direction. We propose that the rotation may be due to asymmetric progress of the magnetic reconnection site or may be due to the change of the peak point of the electric field. In MW emission we found two sources. The main source is at the main flare site and another is in the southwest direction. It appears that the remote source is formed by the impact of accelerated energetic electrons from the main flare site. From the spatial correlation of multiwavelength images of the different sources, we conclude that this flare has a three-legged structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present the results of a detailed analysis of multi-wavelength observations of a very impulsive solar flare 1B/M6.7, which occurred on 10 March, 2001 in NOAA AR 9368 (N27 W42). The observations show that the flare is very impulsive with a very hard spectrum in HXR that reveal that non-thermal emission was most dominant. On the other hand, this flare also produced a type II radio burst and coronal mass ejections (CME), which are not general characteristics for impulsive flares. In Ha we observed bright mass ejecta (BME) followed by dark mass ejecta (DME). Based on the consistency of the onset times and directions of BME and CME, we conclude that these two phenomena are closely associated. It is inferred that the energy build-up took place due to photospheric reconnection between emerging positive parasitic polarity and predominant negative polarity, which resulted as a consequence of flux cancellation. The shear increased to>80? due to further emergence of positive parasitic polarity causing strongly enhanced cancellation of flux. It appears that such enhanced magnetic flux cancellation in a strongly sheared region triggered the impulsive flare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present Hα CCD observations of three small-to-medium-size two-ribbon flares observed in the giant AR 9433 on 24 April 2001. Flare observations at other associated wavelengths (e.g., soft X-rays (SXR), hard X-rays (HXR), microwaves (MW)) obtained from archives are also presented and compared. We have tested the Neupert effect for the most energetic third flare. The flare observations are in agreement with the thick-target model. In the case of this flare the HXR emitting electrons appears to be the heating source of SXR and Hα emissions. The flares are also studied in EUV and UV emissions using TRACE data. We discuss the complexity of the magnetic field using SOHO/MDI magnetograms. The flares are observed to occur in both (f/p) polarity regions in highly sheared magnetic field with emerging flux regions and MMFs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The results of photometric measurements (in UBV filters) of Comet P/Halley during four nights in January 1986 have been presented. Rapid recurring increases of P/Halley's brightness were observed during these four nights. This phenomenon seemed to occur at a time interval of about 23.7 ± 0.3 hr. The maximum variation of brightness during an individual night amounts to δ U ~ 0.70; δ B ~ 0., 65 and δ V ~ 0.66 in U, B, and V filters, respectively. Rapid irregular short-lived fluctuations of brightness of the order of 0.1 were also found present during an individual night. The present observations show the active nature of P/Halley. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To study the evolution of large convective cells known as supergranules, a solar telescope was set up at Maitri, Indian permanent station in Antarctica region, during the local summer months (December 1989 through March 1990). A continuous sequence of calcium K-line filtergrams for 106 hours spaced at intervals of about 10 min was obtained. The analysis of the data indicates that the most probable lifetime of the calcium-K network is about 22 hours. The lifetime depends upon the size of the cell and is larger for bigger cells. The data also show that cells (of a given size) associated with remnant magnetic field regions live longer than those in the field-free region. This may mean that the magnetic field plays an important role in the confinement of these structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this investigation, we have studied the latitudinal, longitudinal (northern and southern hemispheric) distributions based on 1737 major flares observed during solar cycles 19 and 20 (see subsequent paragraphs) and have arrrived at some interesting results which go to show that as far major flares are concerned latitudewise 11-20° belts, and longitudewise 5-8 places are most prolific in producing major flares in each hemisphere. During the above cycles at least 5 flare zones are present in each hemisphere. In fact these zones seem to produce more than 50% of the total number of energetic flares investigated by us and occupy only <4% area of the Sun. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we present the observations of extreme-ultraviolet (EUV) waves associated with an M6.5 flare on 2013 April 11. The event was observed by Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) in different EUV channels. The flare was also associated with a halo CME and type II radio bursts. We observed both fast and slow components of the EUV wave. The speed of the fast component, which is identified as a fast-mode MHD wave, varies in the range from 600 to 640 km s − 1 , whereas the speed of the slow-component is ≈ 140 km s − 1 . We observed the unusual phenomenon that, as the fast-component EUV wave passes through two successive magnetic quasi-separatrix layers (QSLs), two stationary wave fronts are formed locally. We propose that part of the outward-propagating fast-mode EUV wave is converted into slow-mode magnetohydrodynamic waves, which are trapped in local magnetic field structures, forming successive stationary fronts. Along the other direction, the fast-component EUV wave also creates oscillations in a coronal loop lying ≈ 225 Mm away from the flare site. We have computed the energy of the EUV wave to be of the order of 10 20 J . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Correction to: Astrophys Space Sci (2017) 362:10 DOI There was an error in the sixth author's name in the original publication. It is correctly shown here. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the workshop on Transient Phenomena on the Sun and Interplanetary Medium held in commemoration of the Golden Jubilee Year of the Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences at the Manu Maharani Hotel in Nainital, India. It centered on various topics of the current solar research spanning over six scientific sessions.

Photoelectric photometry (UBV) of Comet P/Halley performed on April 29, 1986 has been presented. The observations show short-term variability in light. The amplitude of variability in U filter is much more than in B and V filters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thirty photometric magnitudes, in each filter (UBV), of P/Halley (1982i) have been measured on 1986, January 12. They show short-term variability of about 0.15 magnitude. The present measurements show the active nature of the comet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]