Radiation Storm Hits Mars Rover, Curiosity OK

Source - NASA Science News for Feb. 24, 2012

En route to the Red Planet, Mars rover Curiosity has experienced the strongest solar radiation storm since 2005. Researchers say this is part of Curiosity's job as a 'stunt double' for human astronauts.

The full story can be found here: http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2012/24feb_stuntdouble/

A companion video is posted below and can also be viewed at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E99YYNN9EGQ

Radiation Storm and CME Alert

Source - Space Weather News for Nov. 26, 2011: http://spaceweather.com

CME AND RADIATION STORM: A solar radiation storm is in progress around Earth. At the moment (the late hours of Nov. 26th), the storm is classified as minor, which means it has little effect on our planet other than to disturb HF radio transmissions at high latitudes. Bigger effects, however, could be in the offing. The same blast that caused the radiation storm also hurled a CME into space, and this CME appears set to deliver a blow to Earth's magnetic field on Nov. 28th. Geomagnetic storms and auroras are possible when the cloud arrives. Visit http://spaceweather.com for more information and updates.

WOULD YOU LIKE A CALL when geomagnetic storms are in progress? Storm alerts are available from http://spaceweathertext.com (text) and http://spaceweatherphone.com (voice).

Super Storm on Saturn

Source - NASA Science News for May 19, 2011

A storm of rare power has formed in Saturn's northern hemisphere. Wreaking havoc for months, it now stretches around the entire planet and can be seen through backyard telescopes.

FULL STORY at

http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2011/19may_saturnstorm/

A Story from the Tornado Zone

Source - NASA Science News for May 6, 2011

On Wednesday, April 27th, Science@NASA writer Dauna Coulter found herself near ground zero as a super-outbreak of tornadoes ripped through north Alabama. This is the story about the event she wrote and submitted from within the disaster zone.

FULL STORY at

http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2011/06may_tornado/

Solar Radio Storm

Source - Space Weather News for March 28, 2011: http://spaceweather.com

SOLAR RADIO STORM: A profusion of emerging sunspots has kicked off a days-long radio storm on the sun. VHF receivers on Earth are picking up loud bursts that sound like waves crashing on a beach. This ongoing event continues a recent trend of increasing activity as Solar Cycle 24 heats up. Check http://spaceweather.com for audio and images of the instigating sunspots.

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http://www.shopspaceweather.com/explore-scientific-white-light-solar-observer-system.aspx

The Mysterious Rumble of Thundersnow

Source - NASA Science News for Feb. 24, 2011

Last month, NASA scientists got a rare chance to study "thundersnow" first-hand when a freak winter storm rolled right over their research center.

FULL STORY at

http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2011/24feb_thundersnow/

Storms on Saturn and Earth

Source - Space Weather News for Dec. 28, 2011: http://spaceweather.com

BIG STORM ON SATURN: Got a telescope for Christmas? Point it at Saturn. A giant storm even brighter than Saturn's rings is raging through the planet's cloudtops. Amateur images and sky maps are featured on today's edition of http://spaceweather.com.

GEOMAGNETIC STORM IN PROGRESS: At the time this alert is being written (mid-day UT on Dec. 28), a polar geomagnetic storm is in progress (Kindex=5). Observers report electric currents in the ground and intensifying Northern Lights over Scandinavia. High-latitude sky watchers should be alert for auroras: http://spaceweathertext.com .

Radio Storms on Jupiter

Source - Space Weather News for April 13, 2009
http://spaceweather.com

RADIO STORMS ON JUPITER: On April 11th, an amateur radio astronomer in New Mexico heard loud pops and crackles coming from the loudspeaker of his shortwave receiver. The sounds resembled terrestrial lightning, but the source was not on Earth. It was a radio storm on Jupiter. You can listen to the sounds on today's edition of http://spaceweather.com .

Astronomers have long known that Jupiter produces strong shortwave radio bursts detectable from Earth; the fact of Jupiter's "radio activity" is not news. However, now may be the best time in decades to listen to the giant planet. The sun is in the pits of a century-level solar minimum. Low solar activity increases the transparency of Earth's atmosphere to shortwave radio waves, allowing signals from Jupiter to more easily and clearly reach the ground. At the same time, terrestrial radio interference subsides (another side-effect of solar minimum), so Jupiter bursts are easier to identify.

2009 is going to be a good year for Jupiter. The planet is moving away from the sun and may now be seen shining brightly in the eastern sky before dawn. Students, teachers and amateur scientists who wish to try listening as well as watching should consider building their own radio telescope. Kits are available from NASA's Radio JOVE program: http://radiojove.gsfc.nasa.gov/