Space Weather News for June 12, 2026
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A SPACEX ROCKET IS GOING TO HIT THE MOON: NASA says amateur astronomers might be able to observe the debris when a Falcon 9 upper stage crashes into the Moon on Aug. 5, 2026. Observers in the Americas will have the best view of the plume rising over the lunar limb.
Above: Approximate location of the Falcon 9 impact on Aug. 5, 2026
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Space Weather News for June 8, 2026
VENUS IS ABOUT TO ‘KISS’ JUPITER: Look west after sunset. Venus and Jupiter are converging for a beautiful conjunction, only 1.6 degrees apart on June 9th. Later this week, Mercury and the crescent Moon will join the show, too. Full story and night-by-night sky maps @ Spaceweather.com.
Above: Venus and Jupiter converging over France. Photo credit: Valerie Liard
VENUS-JUPITER CONJUNCTION: When the sun goes down tonight, step outside and look west. The two brightest planets in the Solar System are converging for a beautiful conjunction. Last night in Austria, Michael Jaeger watched them set together in a blizzard of Starlink satellites:
“What a beautiful pair in the sky,” says Jaeger. “Venus and Jupiter are the stars of the night as darkness falls.”
At closest approach on June 9th, Venus and Jupiter will be just 1.6 degrees apart–similar to the Great Conjunction of 2002. And this is just the beginning. During the nights ahead, Mercury and the crescent Moon will join Venus and Jupiter to form a must-see quartet in the twilight sky. It’s a marvelous week-long sky show.
https://www.planetary.org/the-downlink/shortchanging-nasa-is-simply-not-smart
A hardy fungus may challenge planetary protection efforts. A recent study has identified a fungus called Aspergillus calidoustus living in NASA cleanrooms even after decontamination. This species could potentially survive the radiation, near-vacuum, and temperature conditions of deep space, meaning it could be carried on spacecraft to Mars or other worlds.
Space Weather News for March 16, 2026
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EQUINOX AURORA WATCH: The first auroras of northern spring are only days away. A CME (described below) is expected to hit Earth on March 19th just hours before the vernal equinox. Its impact could spark G2-class geomagnetic storms with photographic auroras at mid-latitudes.
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EARTH-DIRECTED SOLAR FLARE AND CME: Surprising forecasters, sunspot 4392 produced an M2.7-class solar flare on March 16th (1215 UTC). NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory captured the extreme ultraviolet flash:
On the Richter Scale of solar flares, “M2.7” is not very strong. However, this one hurled a CME almost directly toward Earth. NOAA models and NASA models agree: The CME will arrive on March 19th, mere hours before the northern vernal equinox.
This is perfect timing because auroras love equinoxes. It’s called the “Russell-McPherron effect.” At this time of year, the magnetic field of Earth can link to the magnetic field of the sun, providing a superhighway for solar wind to enter our planet’s magnetosphere. Even a weak CME can can penetrate to spark mid-latitude auroras.
There’s more: A New Moon on March 19th will provide dark skies for long exposures. Even if you can’t see the auroras, you might be able to photograph them. Point your smart phone at the sky and take a nighttime exposure. You could be surprised by what appears on the screen.
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Space Weather News for March 4, 2026
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LUNAR ECLIPSE REVEALS HOT SPOTS ON THE MOON: Millions of people witnessed yesterday’s total lunar eclipse–but only one photographed it using a thermal camera. An amateur astronomer’s rare infrared image reveals dozens of hot spots scattered like stars across the lunar surface. Full story @ Spaceweather.com.
For the details, click https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/2025JE009047
On 27 December 2024, NASA’s Juno spacecraft observed an enormous volcanic eruption on Io, Jupiter’s most volcanically active moon. The eruption covered a vast area of about 65,000 km2 in the southern hemisphere and released an estimated 140–260 TW of energy-possibly the most intense volcanic event ever recorded on Io, far surpassing previous eruptions. The eruption affected multiple volcanic hot spots, with some increasing in brightness by over 1,000 times their usual levels. Scientists believe this was a single massive event spreading underground across hundreds of kilometres, linking multiple magma reservoirs. However, other nearby volcanoes remained unaffected, adding complexity to how Io’s interior works. This unprecedented event suggests that Io’s volcanoes may be more interconnected than previously thought. Future observations by Juno could reveal whether the eruption left behind new lava flows or ash deposits, helping scientists better understand the moon’s geology and volcanic activity.
DO PLANETARY ALIGNMENTS AFFECT SOLAR ACTIVITY?
There’s a planetary alignment this week. Could it affect solar activity? One researcher says “yes,” and explains how on today’s edition of Spaceweather.com.
Above: Jupiter, Earth, Venus and Mars are arrayed in an approximate line this week, exerting their “spring tides” on the sun. Can these feeble tides affect solar activity?
31/Atlas is an alien comet, not an alien craft, even though it is not accelerating due only to gravity. –CPL
Space Weather News for Dec. 16, 2025
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THE NON-GRAVITATIONAL ACCELERATION OF 3I/ATLAS: New data from NASA’s Psyche spacecraft and ESA’s Mars Trace Gas Orbiter confirm that interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS is not moving under the force of gravity alone. It has a “non-gravitational acceleration.” The effect can be explained entirely by cometary outgassing, and allows astronomers to weigh the comet from afar. Full story @ Spaceweather.com.
Space Weather News for Nov. 24, 2025
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A COMET IS EXPLODING NEAR THE NORTH STAR: Golden Comet ATLAS (C/2025 K1) is breaking into multiple fragments–four and counting–as it brightens near the North Star. Fresh images suggest even more pieces may form soon. Sky maps and movies @ Spaceweather.com.
sky might be partly clear tonight, worth looking for aurora.
Space Weather News for Nov. 5, 2025
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STRONG GEOMAGNETIC STORMS PREDICTED: Solar activity is suddenly high with multiple X-class and strong M-class solar flares since Monday. At least three CMEs are expected to graze or directly hit Earth this week, potentially sparking strong geomagnetic storms on Nov. 6-7. Full story @ Spaceweather.com.
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Above: An X1.8-class solar flare from sunspot 4274 on Nov. 4, 2025.
