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

A Gash in the Sun's Atmosphere

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

A GASH IN THE SUN'S ATMOSPHERE: An unusually wide and sinuous hole has opened in the sun's atmosphere, and it is stretching like a gash across the sun's southern hemisphere. A roughly fan-shaped stream of solar wind flowing from the hole is gently buffeting Earth's magnetic field, and it could keep polar magnetic fields in an unsettled state for the rest of February.  Long range forecasts suggest the month could end with a moderately strong (G2-class) geomagnetic storm. This is all good news for Arctic sky watchers, who can expect regular episodes of Northern Lights in the nights ahead.

Visit today's edition of Spaceweather.com for more information and sightings.

Amazing Display of Colorful Clouds in the Arctic Stratosphere

Source - Space Weather News for Feb 13th, 2017: http://spaceweather.com

AMAZING POLAR STRATOSPHERIC CLOUDS: Around the Arctic Circle, veteran sky watchers are reporting a remarkable outbreak of polar stratospheric clouds (PSCs).  Floating high above Earth's surface in the normally transparent stratosphere, PSCs have filled the sky with brilliant colors that rival the aurora borealis. Some longtime residents of northern Sweden say it's the best display they've ever seen, continuing a trend in recent years of intensifying PSC activity.

Visit today's edition of Spaceweather.com to view photos of the outbreak and to learn more about these must-see wonders of the Arctic.

Above: Polar stratospheric clouds over Kiruna, Sweden, photographed by Mia Stålnacke on Feb. 13, 2017. Browse the photo gallery for more sightings

Mother's Day Geomagnetic Storm

Source - Space Weather News for May 8, 2016: http://spaceweather.com

MOTHER'S DAY GEOMAGNETIC STORM: Surprise! Sunday, May 8th, began with a strong G3-class geomagnetic storm that sparked beautiful auroras around both poles.  Northern Lights were spotted in at least half a dozen US states. Meanwhile, at the other end of the planet, Southern Lights lit up the skies and snowy landscape of Antarctica. 

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


Credit Space Weather News / Rocky Raybell - Keller, Washington

Geomagnetic Storm and Naked-eye Comet

Source - Space Weather News for Dec. 29, 2014: http://spaceweather.com

GEOMAGNETIC STORM:  The year is ending with an outbreak of auroras.  Sky watchers around the Arctic Circle are seeing bright Northern Lights as Earth enters a stream of high-speed solar wind, causing G1-class storm conditions on Dec. 29th.

Visit http://spaceweather.com for images and updates.

BRIGHTENING COMET:  The "Christmas Comet" C/2014 Q2 (Lovejoy) has continued to brighten, and now observers around the world are reporting seeing it with the unaided eye from dark-sky sites.  Comet Lovejoy is a fine target for backyard telescopes, as shown on today's edition of  http://spaceweather.com

AURORA ALERTS are available from http://spaceweathertext.com (text) and http://spaceweatherphone.com (voice).

A Taste of Solar Maximum

Source - NASA Science News for July 20, 2012

Forecasters say solar maximum is still a year away. Earlier this month sky watchers got a taste of things to come when a powerful flare sparked Northern Lights over the United States as far south as Arkansas, Colorado and California.

The full story can be found here: http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2012/20jul_tasteofsolarmax/

A companion video is posted below and can also be viewed at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8VVYb-snvJ8