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.

Big Sunspots Staring at Earth

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

BIG SUNSPOTS STARING AT EARTH: Solar activity has been low for months.  That could soon change.  Two big sunspots are staring directly at Earth, and one of them has an unstable magnetic field that harbors energy for M-class solar flares. Images and updates are available at http://spaceweather.com

NOCTILUCENT CLOUDS INVADE THE USA: For the first time this summer, bright noctilucent clouds have crossed the Canadian border into the continental USA.  Formed by wisps of summertime water vapor freezing around meteor smoke, the electric-blue ripples were sighted by multiple observers in Seattle and surrounding areas. Check out the video on http://spaceweather.com.

Noctilucent Clouds Descend to Mid-Latitudes

Source - Space Weather News for July 6, 2016: http://spaceweather.com

NOCTILUCENT CLOUDS DESCEND TO MID-LATITUDES: Last night, noctilucent clouds descended to their lowest latitude of the 2016 season.  Electric-blue ripples were sighted over nearly a dozen European countries as far south as 46 degrees N.  These formerly-Arctic clouds are spreading as a result of climate change and may soon be spotted over the continental USA. Visit http://spaceweather.com for photos and observing tips.

Crazy-Bright Auroras over Antarctica

Source - Space Weather News for July 1, 2016: http://spaceweather.com

CRAZY-BRIGHT AURORAS OVER ANTARCTICA: The sun has been without spots for more than a week, and solar activity is very low.  Nevertheless, in Antarctica the auroras have been so bright they are casting shadows and turning the snow reflected-green. What's going on? Visit Spaceweather.com for pictures and an explanation.

NOCTILUCENT CLOUDS--A SIGN OF CLIMATE CHANGE?  July is often the best month for spotting noctilucent clouds and, indeed, July 1st began with a magnificent display over Europe. A new study by researchers working with NASA's AIM spacecraft suggest that these electric-blue clouds are a sign of climate change at the edge of space. Full story: http://news.spaceweather.com/climate-change-at-the-edge-of-space/

Sunspots Vanish ...Again

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

SUNSPOTS VANISH ...AGAIN: For the second time this month, sunspots have faded away leaving the face of the sun completely blank. This signals an important transition in the solar cycle: Solar Minimum is coming. Visit Spaceweather.com to learn about the down-to-Earth effects of low sunspot numbers.

SPECIAL WEBCAST: Have you ever wondered how NASA plans to fly astronauts to Mars? Find out on June 24th when the Coca-Cola Space Science Center visits Cape Canaveral for a live webcast about NASA's Space Launch System.  The presentation will include the bone-rattling launch of a mighty Atlas V rocket. Tune in Friday between 7 am and 11 am EDT: http://www.ccssc.org/webcast.html

Night-shining Clouds Brighten over Europe

Source - Space Weather News for June 13, 2016: http://spaceweather.com

NIGHT-SHINING CLOUDS OVER EUROPE: Observers in Europe are reporting an outburst of bright noctilucent (night-shining) clouds. Seeded by meteoroids, these electric-blue clouds float at the edge of space and can be seen alongside the stars after sunset. Soon, they will likely spread to North America. Visit http://spaceweather.com for pictures and observing tips.



Image credits: Space Weather News / Svante Sandström

Where did all the sunspots go?

Source - Space Weather News for June 4, 2016: http://spaceweather.com

WHERE DID ALL THE SUNSPOTS GO? Something interesting is happening on the sun.  On Friday, June 3rd, the sunspot number dropped to 0, and the solar disk is still blank this weekend. This is a sign that the sun is slowly shifting into a new phase of the solar cycle.  Learn more about the transformation on Spaceweather.com.

GEOMAGNETIC STORM WATCH:  NOAA forecasters say there is a 70% chance of polar geomagnetic storms on June 4th and 5th as Earth enters a stream of fast-moving solar wind.  This is the same stream, by the way, that triggered the fabulous Mother's Day Storm last month, when auroras were photographed in the USA as far south as Kansas and Arkansas. Visit Spaceweather.com for more information and updates

Noctilucent Cloud Season Begins

Source - Space Weather News for May 27, 2016: http://spaceweather.com

NOCTILUCENT CLOUD SEASON BEGINS: On May 24th, NASA's AIM spacecraft spotted wispy electric-blue clouds floating above the Arctic Ocean. This marks the beginning of the 2016 season for noctilucent clouds.  Seeded by meteoroids, icy noctilucent clouds form at the edge of space where they can be seen shining in the night sky.  Each year, their first detection by spacecraft is usually quickly followed by ground-based sightings. Indeed, a photographer in North Wales spotted some this morning.

Visit http://spaceweather.com for photos and observing tips.

Image Creidt: Space Weather News / NASA

Rare Form of "Space Lightning" Sighted over Oklahoma

Source - Space Weather News for May 26, 2016: http://spaceweather.com

SPACE LIGHTNING OVER OKLAHOMA: Earlier this week, an enormous cluster of sprites (a.k.a. "space lightning") appeared over a thunderstorm in Oklahoma.  The outbreak was so intense, it may have warped the ionosphere above it and sparked a rare "pop-through gigantic jet."  This type of display could become more common as summer thunderstorm season unfolds across the USA.

Visit http://spaceweather.com for observing tips and more information.

Image credits: Space Weather News and Thomas Ashcraft

Midnight Sky Show

Source - Space Weather News for May 21, 2016: http://spaceweather.com

MIDNIGHT SKY SHOW: Tonight, the full Moon gets together with Mars and Saturn to form a bright triangle in the constellation Scorpius. The beautiful midnight encounter is visible around the world, and happens just one week before Mars makes its closest approach to Earth in more than a decade.

Visit http://spaceweather.com for observing tips and more information

How to See NASA's Giant Space Balloon

Source - Space Weather News for May 18, 2016: http://spaceweather.com

NASA'S GIANT SPACE BALLOON: On May 17th, NASA successfully launched a gigantic helium balloon from Wanaka, New Zealand, on a 100+ day mission to the stratosphere. The 19 million cubic foot behemoth is now floating over southern Australia, and it will soon proceed to circumnavigate the southern hemisphere.  Sky watchers near the flight path can see the "space balloon" with the unaided eye and track it with backyard telescopes. Visit http://spaceweather.com for observing tips and more information about the balloon's fascinating payload.

MINOR GEOMAGNETIC STORMS POSSIBLE THIS WEEK: NOAA forecasters estimate a 50% to 60% chance of minor G1-class geomagnetic storms on May 19-20 when Earth enters a stream of high-speed solar wind. High-latitude sky watchers should be alert for auroras, especially in the southern hemisphere where darkening autumn skies favor visibility

Image Credit: Space Weather News / Ray Pickard 

Earth's Magnetic Field is Changing

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

EARTH'S MAGNETIC FIELD IS CHANGING: Earth's magnetic field protects us from stormy space weather and cosmic rays. New data from Europe's SWARM spacecraft show that our planet's magnetic field is changing.  For instance, in recent years magnetism over North America has weakened by 3.5%, while Asia has seen an increase of 2%. Other parts of the world are unsettled as well. Visit Spaceweather.com for the full story.

NOCTILUCENT CLOUDS: Soon, the season for noctilucent clouds over the northern hemisphere will begin.  A sky watcher in Scotland might have spotted the first apparition on May 10th.   Electric-blue clouds are highlighted on today's edition of Spaceweather.com.




Image Source - Space Weather News / ESA

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

Transit of Mercury

 
Source - Space Weather News for May 7, 2016: http://spaceweather.com

TRANSIT OF MERCURY: On Monday morning, May 9th, Mercury will pass directly between Earth and the sun, producing a rare transit visible from the Americas, Europe, Africa and parts of Asia.  Visit Spaceweather.com for observing tips and links to live webcasts.

CHANCE OF STORMS: NOAA forecasters say there is a 65% chance of G1-class geomagnetic storms on May 9th when Earth enters a solar wind stream filled with negative-polarity magnetic fields. A display of high-latitude auroras is possible, especially in the southern hemisphere where visibility is improved by darkening autumn skies.

Meteors from Halley's Comet

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

METEORS FROM HALLEY'S COMET: Earth is entering a stream of debris from Halley's Comet, source of the annual eta Aquariid meteor shower.  Although the shower does not peak until later this week, a radar in Canada is already detecting strong echoes from the debris zone.  This bodes well for sky watchers who could see 30 or more meteors per hour in the nights ahead.  Visit http://spaceweather.com for updates and observing tips.


Above: This sky map from the Canadian Meteor Orbit Radar shows meteoroids from Halley's Comet emerging from the constellation Aquarius (ETA).

Negative Magnetic Fields Spark Auroras

 
Source - Space Weather News for May 2, 2016: http://spaceweather.com

NEGATIVE MAGNETIC FIELDS SPARK AURORAS: For the past three days Earth has been passing through a region of interplanetary space filled with negative-polarity magnetic fields. This has caused intermittent geomagnetic storms and beautiful auroras around both poles. Visit http://spaceweather.com for pictures and more information about this phenomenon.

"SPACE LIGHTNING" SIGHTED OVER THE CARIBBEAN: Sprite season is definitely underway. Only a few days after a widespread display appeared over Texas, more sprites have popped up near Puerto Rico. This time the exotic forms of upper atmospheric electricity were sighted dancing above the sea instead of land.  Learn more about land-vs-sea sprites at http://spaceweather.com.



Photo credit: Frankie Lucena and Space Weather News.

Space Lightning over Texas

Source - Space Weather News for April 28, 2016: http://spaceweather.com

"SPACE LIGHTNING" OVER TEXAS: Last night, a photographer in Texas captured a magnificent display of sprites dancing atop a powerful thunderstorm near Dallas. Sprites are an exotic form of lightning that shoot up from thunderstorms, reaching toward space. The Texas display shows that sprite season is now underway in the northern hemisphere.

Visit http://spaceweather.com for more information and observing tips.

Quiet Sunspot Wakes Up, Explodes

 
Source - Space Weather News for April 18, 2016: http://spaceweather.com

BIG SUNSPOT ERUPTS: Surprise! Quiet sunspot AR2529 isn't so quiet, after all. The heart-shaped active region erupted on April 18th (00:39 UT), producing a strong M6.7-class solar flare and shortwave radio blackouts around the Pacific. Visit http://spaceweather.com for more information.

Earth Enters Solar Wind Stream

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

EARTH ENTERS SOLAR WIND STREAM: A G1-class geomagnetic storm is in progress on April 12th as Earth enters a stream of fast-moving solar wind.  NOAA forecasters estimate a 70% chance of additional storming on April 13th as Earth moves deeper into the stream.  Also, a minor CME from big sunspot AR2529 could deliver a glancing blow to Earth's magnetic field on April 13th, further boosting the odds of storminess. 

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

Big Sunspot Gets Bigger

Source - Space Weather News for April 10, 2016: http://spaceweather.com

BIG SUNSPOT GETS BIGGER: The sun's headlong plunge into solar minimum has been interrupted by the surprise emergence of a big sunspot. Wide enough to swallow Earth with room to spare, AR2529 doubled in size over the weekend. The behemoth is now being photographed by amateur astronomers around the world and closely monitored by NASA spacecraft.

Visit Spaceweather.com for more information.