STORM SIGNALS
From Satellites: RHESSI Light Curves
Live Data
RHESSI Light curves
A complete list of real-time data links is located in the Space Weather Resources section.
The RHESSI satellite uses an instrument that measures high-energy x-ray emissions at many different energies. RHESSI Light Curve data can be used to identify solar flares and to compare with GOES and WIND WAVES data. RHESSI Light Curve data are near real-time with only a few hours processing time.
When you click on the RHESSI Light Curve Link you will see the following image.
Navigation: When the page first opens it will show a recent time interval, but not necessarily the most recent data available.
Click on the year and month you want to examine.
Click on the day of the month in the column numbered
1 - 30 or 31.
The arrows at the top allow you to choose previous time period (back arrow) or the next time period (forward arrow). The outside arrows change the time period by one day. The inner arrows change time by one orbit (a few hours).
Click on the arrows until you get the time period you
want. (Remember, the time is given in Universal Time (UT)
Leave the Rates setting at 'Summary, corrected'.
Interpreting the Light Curve:
The plot shows the number of photons of x-ray light arriving at the detector per second. There are nine different energy ranges displayed. The time interval begins and ends at orbit midnight (when the spacecraft is on the opposite side of Earth from the Sun).
There is an Explanation of the plots linked at the bottom of each Quick Plots page. It is recommended that you read this explanation, however, a few highlights here will help you to interpret the data.
The colored bars along the top give important information.
The red F and red bar: This means there was a flare. The bar shows how long the flare lasted. The scientists have interpreted the data for you! This helps you to ignore some of the variations in the light curves that are not solar flares, but are caused by several different phenomena.
The cyan N and cyan bar: The spacecraft is in Earth's shadow and cannot see the Sun. Unlike spacecraft like SOHO, which is located at the gravitational balance point between Earth and Sun and continuously observes the Sun, RHESSI orbits Earth and during roughly half of its orbit it is in Earth's shadow and cannot see the Sun.
The orange S and orange bar: The spacecraft is passing through the South Atlantic Anomaly. The instruments on RHESSI are turned off to protect them from contamination and damage from high doses of radiation in this region over the South Atlantic.
- NASA Official: Dr. James Thieman
- Project Manager: Don Robinson-Boonstra
- Website Manager: Bryan Stephenson