Major Space Weather Event on Mars

Source - Space Weather News for Oct. 4, 2017: http://spaceweather.com

MAJOR SPACE WEATHER EVENT ON MARS: Last month, a human astronaut standing on the surface of Mars could have seen something amazing. The night sky of the Red Planet turned green in a global display of Northern Lights. Unfortunately, the same astronaut would have been irradiated by high energy particles from the sun. For three days in mid-September a solar storm enveloped Mars, crossing thresholds of ground-level radiation and auroras that orbiters and rovers had never seen before. Such global events on Mars may be more common than previously thought--a topic explored on today's edition of  Spaceweather.com.

Above: This artist's concept shows a solar coronal mass ejection (CME) bearing down on NASA's MAVEN spacecraft in orbit around Mars

Major X-class Solar Flare

Source - Space Weather News for Sept. 6, 2017: http://spaceweather.com

X-CLASS SOLAR FLARE: On Sept. 6, 2017, at 12:02UT, active sunspot AR2673 unleashed an X9.3-class solar flare--the strongest solar flare in more than a decade. The explosion also hurled a CME into space, and possibly toward Earth. Analysis of the event is still underway.

Visit Spaceweather.com for updates and more information about the historical context of today's remarkable flare.

Above: The extreme UV flash from today's X9-class flare. Credit: Solar Dynamics Observatory

CME Strike Sparks Geomagnetic Storms

Source - Space Weather News for July 16, 2017: http://spaceweather.com

CME STRIKE SPARKS GEOMAGNETIC STORMS: Geomagnetic storms are underway on July 16th following a CME strike at 0545 UT. Auroras have been sighted in New Zealand as well as US states such as Washington and Wyoming. G1-class storms happening now could intensity to G2-class in the hours ahead as Earth moves into the CME's magnetized wake.

Visit Spaceweather.com for images and updates

Above: Auroras over Hoopers Inlet, Otago, New Zealand, on July 16, 2017. 

Photo credit: Ian Griffin

Solar Activity Intensifies as Huge Sunspot Grows

Source - Space Weather News for July 9, 2017: http://spaceweather.com

SOLAR ACTIVITY INTENSIFIES: Sunspot AR2665, which emerged just as few days ago, has mushroomed into a behemoth nearly as wide as the planet Jupiter. On July 9th the fast-growing sunspot produced an M-class solar flare and a short-lived shortwave radio blackout over east Asia and Australia. Stronger flares and Earth-directed CMEs may be in the offing as AR2665 turns toward our planet in the days ahead.

Visit Spaceweather.com for images, movies and updates.

New Sunspot Emerges and Explodes

Source - Space Weather News for June 1, 2017: http://spaceweather.com

ACTIVE SUNSPOT: On June 1st, a small but surprisingly active sunspot rotated over the sun's eastern limb. In less than 24 hours, it has unleashed nearly a dozen C-class solar flares and hurled a pair of CMEs into space--an impressive display of fireworks. So far, none of the explosions have targeted Earth, but this could change in the days ahead as the active region rotates toward our planet.

Visit Spaceweather.com for more information and updates.

Geomagnetic Storm Watch (G2-class)

Source - Space Weather News for May 15, 2017: http://spaceweather.com

GEOMAGNETIC STORM WATCH: NOAA forecasters say there is a 40% chance of minor G1-class geomagnetic storms on May 16th as Earth enters a stream of solar wind flowing from a hole in the sun's atmosphere. The storm could intensify to G2-class (moderately strong) on May 17th when an incoming CME is expected to deliver a glancing blow to Earth's magnetic field. High-latitude sky watchers should be alert for auroras, especially in the southern hemisphere where deepening autumn darkness favors visibility.

Visit Spaceweather.com for more information and updates.

Jupiter-Moon Conjunction--Tonight!

Source - Space Weather News for May 7, 2017: http://spaceweather.com

JUPITER-MOON CONJUNCTION: When the sun goes down tonight, step outside and look southeast. You'll see Jupiter and the waxing gibbous Moon rising together in the constellation Virgo, only couple of degrees apart. If possible, try to catch the tight pair before the sky fades completely black. The sight of these two bright celestial bodies framed by twilight blue is beautiful indeed. Sky maps and photos @ Spaceweather.com.

STAR WARS DAY CME: On May the 4th (Star Wars Day), unstable magnetic fields in the sun's atmosphere shifted and hurled a CME into space. The cloud's velocity was relatively low, and it might take 6 whole days to cross the sun-Earth divide. NOAA forecasters expect the CME to arrive on May 10th, possibly causing geomagnetic activity around the poles. Stay tuned to Spaceweather.com for updates

Geomagnetic Storms Continue

Source - Space Weather News for April 23, 2017: http://spaceweather.com

GEOMAGNETIC STORMS CONTINUE: Following on the heels of Saturday's unexpected CME impact, our planet is now moving into a stream of high speed (700 km/s) solar wind. This is re-energizing geomagnetic activity around Earth's poles. NOAA forecasters say there is an 80% chance of geomagnetic storms on April 23rd subsiding to 'only' 60% to 65% on April 24th and 25th. High-latitude sky watchers should remain alert for auroras in the nights ahead. In the USA, Northern Lights might be seen and photographed in northern-tier states from Washington to Maine. Southern Lights are also being reported by observers in high-latitude regions of New Zealand.

Visit  Spaceweather.com for photos and updates.

Surprise! Earth Day Aurora Storm

Source - Space Weather News for April 22, 2017: http://spaceweather.com

EARTH DAY AURORA STORM: Last night, Northern Lights descended into the United States as far south as Michigan, Minnesota, and Washington, kicking off an unexpected display of bright auroras for Earth Day. What happened?  A CME that was supposed to miss Earth apparently hit instead, surprising forecasters. Geomagnetic storms are still underway as April 22nd unfolds; high-latitude sky watchers should remain alert for midnight auroras on April 22-23. Visit  Spaceweather.com for updates.

WEEKEND METEOR SHOWER: The auroras tonight may be spiced by an occasional flash of light.  Earth is entering a stream of debris from Comet Thatcher, source of the annual Lyrid meteor shower. Dark sky observers could see 10 to 20 shooting stars per hour shooting out of the constellation Lyra.  Sky maps and observing tips @ Spaceweather.com.

Massive Explosion on the Sun

Source - Space Weather News for April 19, 2017: http://spaceweather.com

OLD SUNSPOT RETURNS, EXPLODES: Old sunspot AR2644 has returned following a 2-week trip around the backside of the sun--and it is still active. During the late hours of April 18th, the sunspot's magnetic canopy exploded, producing a C5-class solar flare and hurling a spectacularly bright coronal mass ejection (CME) into space. The massive cloud of hot plasma will almost certainly miss Earth, but future explosions could be geoeffective as the sunspot turns toward our planet. Visit  Spaceweather.com for more information and updates.

CHANCE OF MAGNETIC STORMS: NOAA forecasters estimate a 50% chance of polar geomagnetic storms on April 19th and 20th when a high-speed stream of solar wind is due to reach our planet. This could spark bright Northern Lights in the waxing spring twilight around the Arctic Circle. Monitor the aurora gallery for sightings.

Easter Storm? A CME Might Sideswipe Earth This Weekend

Source - Space Weather News for April 12, 2017: http://spaceweather.com

GLANCING-BLOW CME: A magnetic filament on the sun exploded on April 9th, hurling a gaseous coronal mass ejection (CME) into space. The bulk of the CME will miss Earth; nevertheless a glancing blow to Earth's magnetic field is possible this weekend. The impact, if it occurs, could cause magnetic disturbances and auroras around our planet's poles.

Visit today's edition of Spaceweather.com to view a movie of the instigating explosion and for updates as the CME approaches.

Tardy solar storm sparks bright auroras; more to come...

Source - Space Weather News for Nov. 9, 2016: http://spaceweather.com

TARDY CME SPARKS BRIGHT AURORAS:  Arriving later than expected, a CME brushed against Earth's magnetic field on Nov. 9th, sparking a bright display of auroras seen mainly from Alaska. More auroras are in the offing as a new solar wind stream heads in our direction.  Estimated time of arrival: Nov. 11-12.

Visit http://spaceweather.com for pictures of the Nov. 9th auroras and updates about the approaching solar wind stream.

CME Impact Expected Oct. 13th

Source - Space Weather News for Oct. 12, 2016: http://spaceweather.com

CHANCE OF MAGNETIC STORMS:  NOAA forecasters say that a minor coronal mass ejection (CME) could deliver a glancing blow to Earth's magnetic field late on Oct. 13th.  Not long after, a high-speed stream of solar wind is expected to arrive. The combined effect of the CME plus the solar wind stream could spark G1-class polar geomagnetic storms on Oct. 13th and 14th.

Visit http://spaceweather.com for updates and more information.

Magnetic Storm Sparks Summertime Auroras

Source - Space Weather News for Aug. 3, 2016: http://spaceweather.com

SUMMERTIME AURORAS: As expected, a high-speed stream of solar wind (with a CME embedded in the flow) hit Earth's magnetic field during the late hours of Aug. 2nd.  The resulting G1-class geomagnetic storm sparked bright auroras across countries in Europe as well as several northern-tier US states.  The show might not be over. NOAA forecasters estimate a 55% chance of similar storms on August 3rd as Earth continues to feel the effects of the solar wind. 

Visit http://spaceweather.com for photos and more information.

Geomagnetic Storm Warning for Aug. 2nd

Source - Space Weather News for July 31, 2016: http://spaceweather.com
GEOMAGNETIC STORM WARNING: NOAA forecasters estimate a 65% chance of geomagnetic storms on Aug. 2nd when a CME is expected to strike Earth's magnetic field.  A solar wind stream following close on the heels of the CME could boost storm levels to G2 (moderately strong). High latitude sky watchers should be alert for auroras. 

Visit http://spaceweather.com for updates and more information.

The Strongest Solar Flare of 2016

Source - Space Weather News for July 23, 2016: http://spaceweather.com

SOLAR FLARES: Departing sunspot complex AR2565-AR2567 unleashed a pair of rapid-fire solar flares during the early hours of July 23rd. One of them was the strongest flare of the year so far.  The explosions caused shortwave radio blackouts on the dayside of Earth and may have hurled CMEs into space.

Visit http://spaceweather.com for more information and updates.

Geomagnetic Storm in Progress

Source - Space Weather News for July 20, 2016: http://spaceweather.com

GEOMAGNETIC STORM: Unexpectedly, a CME struck Earth's magnetic field during the late hours of July 19th. The impact sparked a minor G1-class geomagnetic storm that could intensify in the hours ahead as Earth passes through the CME's strongly-magnetized wake.

Visit http://spaceweather.com for updates.

Geomagnetic storm on Feb. 16th

Source - Space Weather News for Feb. 16, 2016: http://spaceweather.com

GEOMAGNETIC STORM IN PROGRESS: Earth is entering a stream of high-speed solar wind, and this is causing G1-class geomagnetic storms on Feb. 16th. This is not the CME we have been waiting for since Valentine's Day. Instead, the solar wind is flowing from a coronal hole on the sun Visit Spaceweather.com for photos and more information.

SPACE WEATHER BALLOON LAUNCH: To monitor the effect of the ongoing storm on radiation levels in the atmosphere, Spaceweather.com and the students of Earth to Sky Calculus will launch a helium balloon carrying cosmic ray sensors. Stay tuned for pictures and data from the flight, scheduled for liftoff just a few hours from now

Comet Catalina's Closest Approach to Earth

Source - Space Weather News for Jan 17, 2016: http://spaceweather.com

COMET CATALINA: This weekend, Comet Catalina (C/2013 US10) is making its closest approach to Earth, only 67 million miles away. The beautiful green comet is only barely visible to the naked eye, but it is an easy target for backyard telescopes and digital cameras as it passes through the handle of the Big Dipper. Visit Spaceweather.com for photos and finder charts.

MINOR STORM WARNING: NOAA forecasters say there is a 45% chance of minor geomagnetic storms on Jan. 19th when a CME is expected to sideswipe Earth's magnetic field.  Aurora alerts are available from http://spaceweathertext.com (text) and http://spaceweatherphone.com (voice).

Shattered comet sparks weekend meteor shower

Source - Space Weather News for Jan. 3, 2016: http://spaceweather.com

QUADRANTID METEOR SHOWER:  Earth is about to pass through a narrow stream of debris from shattered comet 2003 EH1, source of the annual Quadrantid meteor shower. Forecasters expect the shower to peak on Monday morning, Jan. 4th during the hours around 3 a.m. ET (0800 UT). The timing favors observers in North America who could see dozens of meteors per hour flowing from a radiant near the North Star. Visit http://spaceweather.com for more information.

GEOMAGNETIC STORM POSSIBLE ON JAN. 3-4:  NOAA analysts say a CME is heading toward Earth and could deliver a glancing blow to our planet's magnetic field during the next 24 hours. The impact is expected to spark minor to moderate geomagnetic storms on Jan. 3rd and 4th.  Aurora alerts are available from Spaceweathertext.com