I am interested in building a solar flare detection project. So far all I can tell is to use a magnetometer sensor. I am looking for suggestion tips on how to approach this project. I guess some kind of magnetic sensor.
Thanks for any replies.
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oops, not simple and certainly not for an Arduino (please prove me wrong;)
- The Radio Sun - some backgrounders ?
Otherway, if you know a website that does provide the measurements of the SOHO satelite you could just do some web scraping (just the part you're interested in and let those numbers be processed by Arduino, e.g. increase the frequency of the blinking LED when a CME passes by 
CME = Coronal Mass Ejection (that are the real bad things for us humans)
check - http://spaceweather.com/ - for some data to parse ..
A magnetometer sensor isn't likely to give you a very good indication of a solar flare, it might if ionospheric currents change as a result of changes in the conductivity of the ionosphere - we see this sometimes in the SAMNET magnetometers that I look after. You're much better off looking at radio effects of solar flares. I haven't built a sudden ionospheric disturbance (SID) detector (yet!) but I think this approach will work much better. I've used data from the American Association of Variable Star Observers; their SID page is probably a good starting point: http://www.aavso.org/sid-monitoring-overview.
Hi,
You certainly CAN detect the effect that solar flares have on the Earth's magnetosphere by monitoring the Earth's magnetic field. Try searching the web with the following: "use a magnetometer to detect solar flares". The British Astronomical Association's Aurora (and Solar) Section compiles reports from observers each month. In many cases the observers are using nothing more than a simple "Jar Jar" magnetometer - ie a magnet suspended by thin fishing line. The magnet is suspended in a jar to prevent air currents from disturbing it - the magnet typically has a small mirror attached to it which refelects a pencil-beam of light onto a simple scale so that changes in the orientation of the bar magnet can be detected. When the magnetosphere is disturbed by particles thrown out from the Sun (a coronal mass ejection (CME) ) the magnet will be deflected from its usual orientation, and the "reading" on the simple scale will change.
If you build an electronic magnetometer then the job is even easier and field strength can be recorded by a computer on a continuous basis. The Arduino could be used, for example, to generate a visual or audio alarm when the magnetic field becomes disturbed.
Best regards,
Malcolm.
INteresting !!!
Google pictures provides many clues e.g. - http://www.sydneyobservatory.com.au/2007/measuring-solar-storms-with-a-jam-jar-magnetometer/ -
robtillaart:
INteresting !!!Google pictures provides many clues e.g. - Powerhouse Museum - Sydney Observatory -
The AuroraWatch UK web pages also has some instructions. I'm currently developing an Arduino-based magnetometer for this purpose. The MicroMag3 sensor looks promising but I need to test it to check out its temperature stability.