15,000km+ opening on 50 MHz between Australia and Europe - 25th June 2021

Friday 25th June 2021: Yet another opening on 50 MHz between Australia and Europe.

The map above is the FT8 report for VK4MA who had paths to around 17 European stations. When I checked his log on the PSK Reporter website, the path for him was open to Japan at the same time that he was hearing Europe.

Looking back through my recent posts about these recent Europe to Australia openings on 50 MHz, they all seem to be around the same time when they do occur... i.e. mainly 05:00 to 06:00 UTC. 

I checked and the sunset for Brisbane (VK4) seems to be at 07:01 UTC while Adelaide is 07:43 UTC.

The regular pattern of the openings from Australia to Europe does suggest to me that the time of day in Australia is be a factor. This is a map of the daylight at 06:00 UTC which shows that sunset in the east of Australia doesn't happen for another hour.

If I use HF propagation prediction sites like PROPPY, then I can see a big spike in the MUF between the east of Australia and Japan at around 06:00 UTC. Is it high enough for 50 MHz? Is it TEP related?

DXCluster & FT8 reports below...

DX-Cluster spots...

Spotter Freq. DX Time Info Country
SV9CVY 50313.0 VK5PJ 06:15 25 Jun tnx 73 loud -6 Australia
SV9CVY 50313.0 VK4HJ 06:00 25 Jun 515 ~ CQ EU VK4HJ QG63 VK Australia
SV9CVY 50313.0 VK5SFA 05:51 25 Jun 2548 ~ CQ DX VK5SFA PF95 VK Australia
VK3OT-@ 50314.0 IK4DRY 06:24 25 Jun JN65 heard Italy
VK3OT-@ 50314.0 S57RR 06:20 25 Jun cq ft8 Slovenia

FT8 spots from the PSK Reporter website...
Txmtr Rcvr Band Mode Distance Time (UTC)
IK4DRY VK3OT 6m FT8 15817 km 05:44:59
S57RR VK3OT 6m FT8 15708 km 05:48:14

Txmtr Rcvr Band Mode Distance Time (UTC)
I6BQI VK4MA 6m FT8 15820 km 05:46:44
I6WJB VK4MA 6m FT8 15804 km 06:04:14
DK1MAX VK4MA 6m FT8 15785 km 06:56:14
SV2DCD VK4MA 6m FT8 15260 km 05:48:44
Z37CXY VK4MA 6m FT8 15205 km 05:45:14
SV2JAO VK4MA 6m FT8 15175 km 05:48:14
SV1DH VK4MA 6m FT8 15039 km 06:10:44
SV9CVY VK4MA 6m FT8 14959 km 06:16:14
LY1CX VK4MA 6m FT8 14653 km 05:57:14
OG3G VK4MA 6m FT8 14636 km 06:29:44
VK4MA LY5E 6m FT8 14631 km 06:34:00
LY2IJ VK4MA 6m FT8 14631 km 05:59:44
VK4MA OH2BU 6m FT8 14527 km 05:44:29
OH2BC VK4MA 6m FT8 14328 km 06:04:44
VK4MA US5CCO 6m FT8 14328 km 05:44:30
UT7QF VK4MA 6m FT8 14112 km 06:18:14
UR0MC VK4MA 6m FT8 13870 km 06:14:14

Txmtr Rcvr Band Mode Distance Time (UTC)
I6WJB VK4HJ 6m FT8 15871 km 06:11:44
SV9CVY VK4HJ 6m FT8 15006 km 06:20:44
VK4HJ SV9CVY 6m FT8 15006 km 05:59:29
VK4HJ LY2IJ 6m FT8 14719 km 06:25:59
VK4HJ LY5E 6m FT8 14719 km 06:25:59
VK4HJ OH7KM 6m FT8 14601 km 06:27:29
OH2BC VK4HJ 6m FT8 14424 km 06:10:14
VK4HJ UR0MC 6m FT8 13946 km 05:58:59

Txmtr Rcvr Band Mode Distance Time (UTC)
I6WJB VK4WTN 6m FT8 15801 km 05:54:15
VK4WTN OG3G 6m FT8 14629 km 06:30:59
VK4WTN LY2IJ 6m FT8 14625 km 06:16:29
VK4WTN LY5E 6m FT8 14625 km 06:16:26
VK5PJ SV9CVY 6m FT8 14120 km 06:17:26

Txmtr Rcvr Band Mode Distance Time (UTC)
VK5SFA SV3AQT 6m FT8 14459 km 06:10:00
VK5SFA SV1DH 6m FT8 14281 km 05:59:27
VK5SFA SV9CVY 6m FT8 14104 km 05:32:56

VK5PW
Txmtr Band Mode Distance Time (UTC)
SV9CVY 6m FT8 14129 km 06:04:45